Short-side-loading tape cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A tape cassette recording and/or reproducing apparatus using, as a recording medium, a tape cassette having a rectangular plane surface shape includes a body formed to have a rectangular plane surface shape, a recording and/or reproducing unit provided in the body and including a magnetic head for recording and/or reproducing information signals to/from a magnetic tape contained within the tape cassette, and a cassette holding mechanism including a cassette holder into which the tape cassette is inserted with one of a pair of opposing short sides being the front end in the insertion direction thereof. The cassette holding mechanism is disposed with a short side of the body being a supporting end, and is pivotably supported between a position where the inserted tape cassette is fully loaded into the recording and/or reproducing unit and a position where the tape cassette inserted into the cassette holding mechanism is away or detached from the recording and/or reproducing unit. The cassette holding mechanism is adapted so that when the recording and/or reproducing unit is in the recording and/or reproducing mode, ejection of the tape cassette is prohibited. The cassette holding mechanism is provided with a cassette movement operation mechanism for ejecting the tape cassette when the tape cassette is moved to a position that is away or detached from the recording and/or reproducing unit.

This application was filed under 35 U.S.C. 371 and is a national stagefiling based upon PCT/JP95/00978 filed May 22, 1995.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus usinga tape cassette as a recording medium. More particularly, this inventionrelates to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus such as a taperecorder, for example, in which a cassette holding mechanism ispivotably disposed, the apparatus including therein a recording and/orreproducing unit adapted for carrying out recording and/or reproductionof information signals with respect to a recording medium such as amagnetic tape, for example, accommodated within the tape cassette, theapparatus shaped to resemble a thin box with a planar rectangularsurface to allow the cassette holding mechanism to hold the tapecassette to load (mount) the tape cassette into the recording and/orreproducing unit.

BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, tape recorders using a tape cassette within which a recordingmedium such as a magnetic tape, for example, for recording informationsignals have been widely used. In such tape recorders, a cassette holderadapted so that a tape cassette is inserted thereinto and is heldthereby (hereinafter simply referred to as "insertion-held" dependingupon circumstances) pivotably disposed in the recorder body which alsoincludes a recording/reproducing unit for carrying outrecording/reproduction of information signals with respect to themagnetic tape accommodated within the tape cassette is provided. Thus,the tape cassette is insertion-held by the cassette holder and thecassette holder is pivotted to the recording/reproducing unit sidedisposed at the recorder body side, whereby the tape cassette is loaded(mounted) at a cassette loading portion constituted at the upper surfaceside of the recording/reproducing unit.

At the cassette loading portion, there are disposed a pair of reel driveshafts which are relatively engaged with a pair of tape reels on which amagnetic tape rotatably accommodated within the tape cassette is wound,a tape feed mechanism consisting of a capstan shaft and a pinch rollerfor moving the magnetic tape at a constant velocity, and a magnetic headfor recording/reproducing information signals such as music signals, forexample, with respect to the magnetic tape fed by the tape feedmechanism.

In this tape recorder, when the tape cassette is loaded into thecassette loading portion of the recording/reproducing unit, the reeldrive shafts are engaged with the tape reels of the tape cassette sideto rotationally operate the tape reels, and to allow the pinch roller tobe in pressure-contact with the capstan shaft to move, at a constantvelocity, the magnetic tape accommodated within the tape cassette tofurther allow the magnetic head to be in sliding contact with themagnetic tape so that recording/reproduction of information signals canbe carried out.

The size of tape recorders have been miniaturized down to dimensionssubstantially equal to the outside shape of the tape cassette.

In the tape recorders of the kind conventionally used, the cassetteholder for loading (mounting) the tape cassette into the cassetteloading portion is of a structure that the tape cassette is insertedwith one side of two opposing long sides being an insertion end. Namely,insertion/withdrawal (removal) of the tape cassette with respect to thecassette holder is carried out with the tape cassette being laterallydisposed in such a manner that the lengthwise portion serves as theinsertion end.

This is because since the tape cassette has an opening for facing aportion of the magnetic tape toward the external is formed at a sidesurface along one side of the two opposing long sides, therecording/reproducing unit of the tape recorder is constituted so thatthe magnetic head is advanced and withdrawn with respect to the exposedportion of the magnetic tape where the opening faces the magnetic head.

Further, in tape recorders adapted so that insertion/withdrawal of thetape cassette is carried out in the state where the tape cassette islaterally disposed with respect to the cassette holder,insertion/withdrawal of the tape cassette is carried out with respect tothe cassette holder with the opposing short sides being held (grasped).In addition, since insertion/withdrawal of the tape cassette withrespect to the cassette holder is carried out in the state where thetape cassette is laterally disposed, the user grasping area is small.From actual circumstances, there are instances where an operation forholding the tape cassette to carry out insertion/withdrawal thereof withrespect to the cassette holder becomes difficult, and it thus becomesdifficult to securely load the tape cassette into the cassette loadingportion.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, an object of this invention is to provide a novelrecording and/or reproducing apparatus which eliminates problemsassociated with associated with the tape cassette being laterallydisposed in such a manner that a lengthwise portion is caused to be aninsertion end, thus making it possible to easily carry outinsertion/withdrawal of the tape cassette.

Another object of this invention is to provide a recording and/orreproducing apparatus which can securely load the tape cassette at theloading position within the apparatus body.

A further object of this invention is to provide a recording and/orreproducing apparatus adapted for allowing the head for carrying outrecording and/or reproduction of information signals to be moved closeto the tape cassette or away therefrom in a insertion/withdrawaloperation of the tape cassette to thereby realize protection of thehead.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus adapted so that insertion/withdrawal of thetape cassette is prevented from being erroneously carried out duringrecording and/or reproducing of information signals so that protectionof the tape cassette and the head or other mechanical parts constitutingthe recording and/or reproducing means of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus can be securely conducted.

A still more further object of this invention is to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus adapted so that after the tape cassette isloaded into a cassette loading portion, or after the tape cassette iscaused to be away (detached) from the cassette loading portion, movementoperation of a head is carried out to thereby realize protection of atape-shaped recording medium such as a magnetic tape, for example,accommodated within, with tape cassette and the head constituting therecording and/or reproducing means.

In order to attain the objects as described above, a recording and/orreproducing apparatus according to this invention comprises a bodyformed to have a rectangular plane surface a recording and/orreproducing unit provided within the body and including a head such as amagnetic head, for example, for carrying out recording and/orreproduction of information signals with respect to a tape-shapedrecording medium such as a magnetic tape, for example, disposed within atape cassette, and a cassette holding mechanism like a cassette holderinto which the tape cassette is inserted such that the rectangular planesurface is inserted with one side of a pair of opposing short sidesbeing a front end in the insertion direction thereof. More specifically,the cassette holding mechanism is disposed such that a short side of thebody is a pivoting end, and is pivotably supported by the body forextending between a position where the tape cassette inserted into thecassette holding mechanism is loaded into the recording and/orreproducing unit and a position where the tape cassette inserted intothe cassette holding mechanism is caused to be away (detached) from therecording and/or reproducing unit.

Moreover, the recording and/or reproducing unit of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus according to this invention comprises a headadapted for carrying out recording and reproduction of informationsignals with respect to the tape-shaped recording medium of the tapecassette and provided so that it is movable between the position wherethe tape cassette is inserted into the cassette holding mechanism andthe position where the tape cassette is caused to be away (detached)from the cassette holding mechanism. Further, the recording and/orreproducing unit includes a movement mechanism such that when thecassette holding mechanism moves from the position where it loads thetape cassette into the recording and/or reproducing unit to the positionwhere it allows the tape cassette to be away (detached) therefrom, themovement mechanism moves the head from the loading position of the tapecassette to the detachment position thereof, that is, the position wheretape cassette is away (detached) therefrom.

Further, the cassette holding mechanism comprises a cassette holderprovided with a first holding portion for holding one long side of apair of opposing long sides of the tape cassette, and a second holdingportion for holding the other long side at a position where insertion ofthe tape cassette has been completed, and adapted for holding the tapecassette inserted into the cassette holding mechanism, and a cover bodydisposed at the short side where the cassette holding mechanism isprovided on the body and pivotted along with the cassette holder betweena cover opening position where the recording and/or reproducing unit isuncovered and a cover closing position where the recording and/orreproducing means is covered.

Furthermore, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according tothis invention comprises an operation mechanism for allowing the coverbody to undergo movement operation to the cover opening position of therecording and/or reproducing unit, whereby when the operation mechanismis operated, the movement mechanism which carries out movement operationof the head moves the head from the loading position side of the tapecassette to the detachment position, or the position where the tapecassette is away or detached therefrom.

Moreover, when the cover body is located at the position where it coversthe recording and/or reproducing unit, the cover body is locked by alock mechanism. In addition, when locking of the cover body by the lockmechanism is released, the head is caused to be away from the loadingposition of the tape cassette by the head movement mechanism.

Further, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus of this invention isadapted so that when the recording and/or reproducing unit is in thestate where it permits recording and/or reproduction of informationsignals with respect to the tape-shaped recording medium within the tapecassette, operation for releasing of the locked state of the cover bodyby the lock mechanism is prevented (blocked).

Furthermore, the cassette holding mechanism includes a cassette movementoperation mechanism such that when the cassette holding mechanism issubjected to movement operation by insertion operation of the tapecassette so that it is moved to the position away from the recordingand/or reproducing unit, the cassette movement operation mechanismcarries out movement operation of the tape cassette held by the cassetteholding mechanism in a direction to eject the tape cassette from thecassette holding mechanism.

This cassette movement operation mechanism is movably provided on thecassette holding mechanism, and comprises a movement portion subjectedto movement operation by the tape cassette inserted into the cassetteholding mechanism, a biasing member for biasing the movement portion ina direction to eject the tape cassette from the cassette holdingmechanism, and a lock portion for locking the movement portion at theposition where insertion of the tape cassette into the cassette holdingmechanism is completed. In addition, when the cassette holding mechanismis moved the position for inserting the tape cassette into the recordingand/or reproducing unit, the lock portion releases the locked state ofthe movement portion.

Furthermore, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thisinvention comprises a body within which a tape-shaped recording mediumis accommodated such that the principal surface of the body hassubstantially the same shape as the plane surface shape of a tapecassette having a pair of reels on which the tape-shaped recordingmedium is wound, a recording and/or reproducing unit provided with apair of reel drive shafts engaged with the pair of reels within thecassette and adapted for carrying out recording and/or reproduction ofinformation signals with respect to the tape-shaped recording mediumwithin the tape cassette, in which the pair of reel drive shafts aredisposed in the body so that they are projected from the principalsurface of the body, and a cassette holder into which the tape cassetteis inserted with one of a pair of short sides of the tape cassette beingthe front end in the insertion direction thereof. The cassette holder ispivotably supported with one of the short sides of the body serving asthe pivoting end, and is pivotted between a first position where thepair of reels of the tape cassette inserted into the cassette holder arerespectively engaged with the pair of reel drive shafts, and a secondposition where engagement with respect to the pair of reel drive shaftsand the pair of reels is released.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus further comprises a coverbody disposed at the side of short side where the cassette holder isprovided on the body. When the cassette holder is located at the firstposition where it allows the pair of reels of the tape cassette to berespectively engaged with the pair of reel drive shafts, the cover bodycovers the principal surface where the recording and/or reproducing unitis disposed in the body, and is pivotted along with the cassette holder.

Further, in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, anopening/closing mechanism to which the cover body is attached so that itcan be opened and closed is provided. In addition, the cover body isattached to a hing portion of the opening/closing mechanism and thecassette holder.

Furthermore, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided witha biasing member for biasing the tape cassette held by the cassetteholder toward the recording and/or reproducing unit side. This biasingmeans is provided at a back side of the cover body and is adapted tobias the tape cassette held by the cassette holder through an openingportion formed in the cassette holder.

Furthermore, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thisinvention is adapted for use with a rectangular tape cassette withinwhich a tape-shaped recording medium is accommodated. The tape cassetteincludes a pair of reels on which the tape-shaped recording medium iswound, and an opening portion for allowing a portion of the tape-shapedrecording medium wound between the pair of reels to face externally isformed at a side surface thereof. This recording and/or reproducingapparatus comprises a body in which a principal surface thereof isformed so as to have substantially the same shape as a plane surfaceshape of the tape cassette, a recording and/or reproducing unitincluding pair of reel drive shafts respectively engaged with a pair ofreels within the tape cassette disposed within the body so as to projectfrom the principal surface of the body, a head disposed at a long sideof the body adapted so that it engages the tape cassette through theopening portion of the tape cassette, and a cassette holder into whichthe tape cassette is inserted with one of a pair of opposing short sidesbeing the front end in the insertion direction thereof. This cassetteholder is disposed at a short side of the body so that it can bepivotted between a first position where the pair of reels of theinserted tape cassette and the pair of reel drive shafts arerespectively engaged with each other and the magnetic head is permittedto engage the tape cassette through the opening portion of the tapecassette and a second position where engagement with respect to the pairof reel drive shafts and the pair of reels of the tape cassette insertedinto the cassette holder is released.

Furthermore, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thisinvention comprises: a body having a plane surface with a rectangularshape, a recording and/or reproducing unit for carrying out recordingand/or reproduction of information signals with respect to a tape-shapedrecording medium contained within a tape cassette; a cassette holdingmechanism into which the tape cassette is inserted with one of a pair ofopposing short sides of the tape cassett being the front end in theinsertion direction thereof, and disposed at a short side of the body sothat it can be pivotted between a position where the inserted tapecassette is loaded into the recording and/or reproducing unit and aposition where the inserted tape cassette is caused to be away ordetached from the recording and/or reproducing unit; and a cassettemovement operation mechanism that is caused to undergo movementoperation by insertion operation of the tape cassette such that when thecassette holding mechanism is moved from the position where the tapecassette is loaded into the recording and/or reproducing unit to theposition where the tape cassette is caused to be away or detached fromthe recording and/or reproducing unit, the cassette movement operationmechanism allows the tape cassette held by the cassette holdingmechanism to move in a direction to eject the tape cassette from thecassette holding mechanism. This cassette movement operation mechanismis provided in the cassette holding mechanism.

Moreover, the cassette movement operation mechanism comprises a movementportion movably provided in the cassette holding mechanism and caused toundergo movement operation by the tape cassette inserted into thecassette holding mechanism, a biasing member for biasing the movementportion in a direction to eject the tape cassette from the cassetteholding mechanism, and a lock portion for locking the movement portionat the position where insertion of the tape cassette into the cassetteholding mechanism is completed. When the cassette holding mechanism ismoved to the position for inserting the tape cassette into the recordingand/or reproducing unit, the locked portion releases lock state of themovement portion.

Furthermore, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thisinvention comprises: a body formed to have a plane surface with arectangular shape; a recording and/or reproducing unit provided in thebody for carrying out recording and/or reproduction of informationsignals with respect to a tape-shaped recording medium contained withina tape cassette; a cassette holding mechanism into which the tapecassette is inserted with one of a pair of opposing short sides of thetape cassette being the front end in the insertion direction thereof,and disposed at a short of the body so that it can be pivotted between aposition where the inserted tape cassette is loaded into the recordingand/or reproducing unit and a position where the inserted tape cassetteis away or detached from the recording and/or reproducing unit; a coverbody disposed at the short side of short sides where the cassetteholding mechanism is provided of, and pivotted along with the cassetteholding mechanism between a cover opening position where the recordingand/or reproducing unit is uncovered and a cover closing position wherethe recording and/or reproducing unit is covered; and a lock mechanismprovided with a pressing operation portion and disposed at another ofthe short sides of the body to lock the cover body at the cover closingposition, and to release the locked state of the cover body by pressingoperation of the pressing operation portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette used as a recordingmedium of a tape recorder according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tape recorder according to thisinvention from the side where the cover body is disposed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state where the cover body ofthe tape recorder shown in FIG. 2 is opened.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tape recorder according to thisinvention from the side where operation button is disposed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the state where the operationbutton covered by chassis plate is faced.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the tape recorderaccording to this invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a mode select (switching)mechanism constituted within the recorder body.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a principal surface of the chassis.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the mode select mechanism of the taperecorder.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the configuration of the essential partof the mode select mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the mode select mechanism showing the statewhere the recording and/or reproducing mode in the forward mode isselected.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the mode select mechanism showing the statewhere the recording and/or reproducing mode in the reverse mode isselected.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the mode select mechanism in the stop mode.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the peripheral portion of gear shift(movement) lever constituting the mode select mechanism.

FIG. 15 a plan view showing the state where the solenoid plunger forallowing the gear shift lever to undergo movement operation is operated.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the movement position of the gear shiftlever when the recording and/or reproducing mode is selected.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the select gear for selecting the tapetraveling direction.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of one principal surface side of the cam gearconstituting the mode select mechanism.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the other principal surface side of thecam gear shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing the cassette holder constituting the taperecorder of this embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing the attachment state of the cover bodyand the cassette holder.

FIG. 22 is a side view showing the state where the cassette loadingportion is opened.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing the essential part of the lock mechanismof the cover body.

FIG. 24 is a front view showing the front face of the eject button forcarrying out opening operation of the cover body.

FIG. 25 is a front view showing the lock mechanism of the cover body.

FIG. 26 is a front view showing the state where the locked state of thecover body is released.

FIG. 27 is a side view showing the state where the tape cassette isloaded into the cassette loading portion.

FIG. 28 is a side view showing the lock mechanism for locking thecassette eject lever.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A more practical embodiment of this invention will now be described withreference to the attached drawings.

In the embodiment disclosed below, this invention is applied to a taperecorder which is a recording/reproducing apparatus using a tapecassette within which a tape-shaped magnetic tape recording medium forinformation signals is accommodated.

1! Tape Cassette

The tape cassette used in the tape recorder of this embodiment will nowbe described. This tape cassette 201 is a tape cassette of the standardsize and is of so called Phillips type.

This tape cassette 201 is provided, as shown in FIG. 1, with a cassettecase 209 formed so as to have a thin box shape such that the planesurface shape is rectangular. A pair of tape reels 202, 203 arerotatably supported within the cassette case 209. A magnetic tape 206 iswound between these tape reels 202, 203. At a front surface side alongone long side 209a of a pair of opposing long sides 209a, 209b of thecassette case 209, a magnetic head insertion hole 207 and a pinch rollerinsertion hole 208 are opened. Further, the portion of the magnetic tape206 extending between the pair of tape reels 202, 203 and accommodatedwithin the cassette case 209 faces externally from the cassette case 209through the magnetic head insertion hole 207 and the pinch rollerinsertion hole 208.

Moreover, at the plane surface portion of the cassette case 209, a pairof reel shaft insertion holes 210, 211 which allow reel hubs 202a, 203aformed at the central portions of the pair of tape reels 202, 203 toface externally are opened.

2! Tape Recorder

The tape recorder of this embodiment using the tape cassette 201 shownin FIG. 1 as a recording medium is constituted as a thin parallelapipedin which the plane surface shape is rectangular as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5in correspondence with the plane surface shape of the tape cassette 201loaded thereinto. This tape recorder comprises a recorder body 1 inwhich a cassette loading portion 4 into which the tape cassette 201 isloaded is constituted, and a recording/reproducing unit adapted so thatit allows the magnetic tape 206 contained within the tape cassette 201loaded into the cassette loading portion 4 to undergo travelingoperation and a magnetic head for carrying out recording/reproduction ofinformation signals with respect to the magnetic tape 206 is disposed;and a cover body 5 pivotably supported at the recorder body 1.

The recorder body 1 is composed of a housing 2 in which a mechanicalportion such as tape traveling mechanism, for example, for allowing themagnetic tape 206 to undergo traveling operation is disposed, and anouter frame 3, having a channel (or U)-shape, disposed so that it fitsover (with respect to) the outer circumferential side of the housing 2.The housing 2 constituting the recorder body 1 is formed bypunch-bending a thin metal plate, and is formed so as to have a boxshape with a rectangular plane surface shape substantially correspondingto the plane surface shape of the tape cassette 201 loaded into the taperecorder. Moreover, the outer frame 3 is formed by molding syntheticresin, and is formed to have channel-(or U)shaped, as shown in FIG. 6,so that it fits over (with respect to) the outer circumferential sideextending over a pair of opposing long sides and straddling from oneside of a pair of opposing short sides of the housing 2 which takesrectangular shape.

The cover body 5 is pivotably supported and attached at a portion of therecorder body 1 so as to open/close a principal surface side of thehousing 2 constituting the recorder body 1. Namely, the cover body 5 isformed so as to have dimensions sufficient to cover the cassette loadingportion 4 constituted at the opened principal surface side of thehousing 2, and is formed to take a rectangular shape substantiallycorresponding to the plane surface shape of the tape cassette 201 loadedinto the cassette loading portion 4. Moreover, the cover body 5 issupported by a hinge portion constituted by rotational (rotary) shaft 45which will be described later provided at one short side of a pair ofopposing short sides of the recorder body 1. Thus, the cover body 5 iscaused to undergo pivot operation in directions indicated by arrows A1and A2 in FIG. 3 about the hinge portion to open and close the cassetteloading portion 4.

Within the housing 2 constituting the recorder body 1, there is disposeda chassis 6 in which there are constituted a tape traveling mechanismfor traveling, at a constant velocity, the magnetic tape 206accommodated within the tape cassette 201 loaded into the cassetteloading portion 4, and a mechanism section constituting arecording/reproducing unit such as a magnetic head for carrying outrecording/reproduction of information signals in slide contact with thetraveling magnetic tape 206. This chassis 6 is formed by punching a thinmetal plate to bend a portion thereof.

At one principal surface side of the chassis 6 disposed within thehousing 2, the cassette loading portion 4 into which the tape cassette201 is loaded is constituted. At the cassette loading portion 4, thereare disposed a pair of positioning pins 15, 16 for carrying outpositioning of the tape cassette 201 to load it thereinto, a magnetichead 9 for carrying out recording/reproduction of information signalswith respect to the magnetic tape 206 in slide contact with the magnetictape 206 accommodated within the tape cassette 201 loaded into theloading portion 4, a pair of first and second capstan shafts 17, 18 anda pair of first and second pinch rollers 11, 12 for allowing themagnetic tape 206 accommodated within the tape cassette 201 to travel ata constant velocity the magnetic tape 206 put therebetween, and a pairof reel drive shafts 19, 20 engaged with reel housings 202a, 203a of thetape reels 202, 203 within the tape cassette 201 to allow these tapereels 202, 203 to undergo rotational operation.

A pair of positioning pins 15, 16 are vertically provided so as toproject toward one principal surface side of the chassis 6, and arerespectively engaged with a pair of positioning holes 214, 214 providedin the cassette case 209, thereby carrying out positioning of theloading position of the tape cassette 201 loaded into the cassetteloading portion 4. Moreover, first and second capstan shafts 17, 18 arerotatably attached at the chassis 6, and are caused to undergorotational operation at a constant rotational velocity by a drive motordisposed at the other principal surface side of the chassis 6. It is tobe noted that rotational directions of the first and second capstanshafts 17, 18 are opposite to each other. These capstan shafts 17, 18face the backward side of the magnetic tape 206 traveling within thecassette case 209 through a pair of capstan shaft insertion holes 213,213 provided in the cassette case 209. Further, respective pinch rollers11, 12 are disposed on the chassis 6 and are rotatably are supported,and they can be moved in a direction away from respective capstan shafts17, 18. These pinch rollers 11, 12 are admitted into the cassette case209 through respective pinch roller insertion holes 208, 208 formed atthe front surface side of the cassette case 209. Thus, the pinch rollers11, 12 with the magnetic tape 206 located therebetween in cooperationwith respective capstan shafts 17, 18 allow the magnetic tape 206 totravel at a constant velocity. Furthermore, the magnetic head 9 isadmitted into the cassette case 209 through a magnetic head insertionhole 207 formed at the front surface side of the cassette case 209 tocome into slide contact with the magnetic tape 206 to carry outrecording or reproduction of information signals on the magnetic tape206.

At the inside surface opposite to the cassette loading portion 4 of thecover body 5 pivotably supported by the recorder body 1, a cassetteholder 8 having a principal surface 8a which has a rectangular shapesubstantially corresponding to the plane surface shape of the tapecassette 201 is disposed in an overlapping manner. When the cover body 5is placed, as shown in FIG. 3, in a state where it is pivotted to aposition where the cassette loading portion 4 is opened, the tapecassette 201 is inserted into the cassette holder 8 from one of theshort sides of the tape cassette 201 when the cover plate 5 is pivottedaway from the cassette loading portion 4. Namely, the tape cassette 201is inserted into the cassette holder 8 with one short side 209c ofopposing a pair of short sides 209c, 209d being the insertion end. Whenthe cassette holder 8 into which the tape cassette 201 is inserted ispivotted to close the cassette loading portion 4, it engages positioningpins 15, 16 with positioning holes 214, 214 of the tape cassette 201 toallow the tape cassette 201 to undergo positioning so that it is inproper correspondence with the cassette loading portion 4.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, a side plate 7 which has a substantiallychannel shape is attached to the peripheral edge of the chassis 6 so asto surround the principal surface of the chassis 6, and an outer frame 3is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the side plate 7 ina manner to overlap therewith. Further, the housing 2 is disposed so asto fit a rising peripheral wall 2a formed at the peripheral edge into aportion of the outer frame 3, and is attached so that the risingperipheral wall 2a is fixed to the side plate 7 by a set screw, forexaple.

At the plane surface positioned at the housing 2 side which is the otherprincipal surface side opposite to the principle surface where thecassette loading portion 4 is constituted in the chassis 6, there isdisposed an electronic circuit board 10 on which a control circuitsection for carrying out setting of respective operation modes of thetape recorder, for example, to control traveling of the magnetic tape206 is constituted (provided).

3! Operation Button

At the outside surface side opposite to the side where the cassetteloading portion 4 is constituted of the housing 2, an operation (push)button 74 constituting an operation section for selecting the operationmode of the tape recorder is disposed. This operation button 74 is facedexternally from the housing 2 through an opening portion 90. Thisoperation button 74 is provided with four pressing portions respectivelycorresponding to constant speed (velocity) traveling mode (Play) fortraveling the magnetic tape 206 at constant speed (velocity) in theforward direction or in the reverse direction, stop mode (Stop), fastfeed mode (FF) and rewinding mode (Rew). These pressing portions areopposite to sheet switches provided on the electronic circuit board 10disposed on the chassis 6 as shown in FIG. 6. By allowing any one ofpressing portions corresponding to respective operation modes of theoperation button 74 to undergo pressing operation, the sheet switch issubjected to pressing operation. Thus, the operation mode correspondingto the pressing portion is selected.

Moreover, the operation button 74 is covered, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,by a shutter plate 92 slidably attached to the housing 2. This shutterplate 92 is formed of a metal plate, and is slidably disposed at theouter side surface of the housing 2. In this example, the shutter plate92 is disposed within a recessed portion 106 provided at the outer sidesurface of the housing so as to become flush with the outer side surfaceof the housing 2. Thus, the shutter plate 92 is caused to undergo slideoperation within the range of the recessed portion 106 to open or closethe operation button 74.

Meanwhile, a connection member 95 provided with a pair of connectionpins 96, 96 and a pair of attachment pins 97, 97 integrally formed isattached to the shutter plate 92. This connection member 95 is attachedto the shutter plate 92 by inserting respective attachment pins 97, 97into a pair of attachment holes 94, 94 provided in the shutter plate 92to caulk the front end sides of these attachment pins 97, 97. Moreover,the connection member 95 respectively insert the connection pins 96, 96into a pair of through-holes 93, 93 bored in the shutter plate 92.Respective connection pins 96, 96 are projected into the housing 2through an opening portion 89 formed in the housing 2. A slide guideplate 76 is attached to the inner side surface of the housing 2 incorrespondence with the opening portion 89. At the slide guide plate 76,a pair of elongated grooves 80, 80 and a slide guide groove 81 arebored. The connection pins 96, 96 are respectively inserted into theelongated grooves 80, 80, and are projected inwardly into the housing 2through the slide guide plate 76.

At one end side of the slide guide plate 76, the operation button 74 isattached. This operation button 74 is attached toward one end of theslide guide plate 76 through a leaf spring 75 attached to the inside ofthe housing 2. This leaf spring 75 is attached to the inside surface ofthe housing 2 opposite to the slide guide plate 76, and ispressure-supported at the inside surface of the housing 2 by the slideguide plate 76. Moreover, at the leaf spring 75, a plurality of throughholes 99 are bored in correspondence with respective pressing portionsof the operation button 74. These through holes 99 serve to projectrespective pressing portions of the operation button 74 internally intothe housing 2. Further, through holes 77, 77, 79 and a cut portion 78are formed toward one end of the slide guide plate 76. These throughholes 77, 77, 79 and cut portion 78 serve to project respective pressingportions of the operation button 74 facing the through holes 99 bored inthe leaf spring 75 internally into the housing 2.

Further, projections are formed at the back side of respective pressingportions of the operation button 74. These projections serve to allowthe sheet switches disposed on the electronic circuit board 10 toundergo pressing operation when respective pressing portions of theoperation button 74 are caused to undergo pressing operation.

Toward the front end of respective connection pins 96, 96 of theconnection member 95, a supportin metal plate 105 having a flat plateshape with attachment holes 87, 87 bored by punching the metal plate isattached. This supporting plate 105 is attached to the connection member95 by respectively inserting connection pins 96, 96 into attachmentholes 87, 87 to caulk the front end of these connection pins 96, 96.

At the supporting plate 105, a guide pin 88 is projected internally intothe housing 2 and is positioned between respective attachment holes 87,87. This guide pin 88 is inserted from inside of the housing 2 into theslide guide groove 81.

Moreover, at the supporting plate 105, a guide groove 86 is bored inparallel with the slide guide groove 81. A guide pin 82 projectedinternally into the housing 2 at the other end of the slide guide plate76 is insertion-engaged with the guide groove 86.

The shutter plate 92 is slidably supported with respect to the housing 2and guided by the slide guide groove 81 and the guide groove 86. Thisshutter plate 92 is caused to undergo slide operation extending betweenthe position where it covers the operation button 74 shown in FIG. 4 andthe position where the operation button 74 shown in FIG. 5 is uncovered.

Between a holding pin 83 projected at a side of the slide guide plate 76and a holding pin 85 projected at a side of the supporting plate 105,respective arm portions of a toggle spring 84 are respectively held.This toggle spring 84 biases the supporting plate 105 in a directionaway from the central position of the slidable range of the supportingplate 105. Namely, the shutter plate 92 is caused to undergo biasingforce of the toggle spring 84 SO that it is biased in either thedirection where it covers the operation button 74 or the direction wherethe operation button 74 is uncovered.

It is to be noted that the portion of the connection member 95projecting from the surface of the shutter plate 92 functions as afinger holding portion when the shutter plate 92 is caused to undergomovement operation by finger.

4! Select Mechanism for Operation Mode

At the other principal surface side facing inward from the housing 2opposite to the principal surface of the cassette loading portion 4 ofthe chassis 6, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, is disposed a drive motor 119and a select mechanism for selecting an operation mode which selectivelytransmits a drive force from the drive motor 119 to respective reeldrive shafts 19, 20 and first and second capstan shafts 17, 18 inaccordance with the selected operation mode. This select mechanism isprovided with a solenoid plunger 301 and a cam gear 320 operative at thetime of selecting respective operation modes. This cam gear 320 isrotationally operated by the drive force of the drive motor 119, and isstopped at rotational angles corresponding to respective operationmodes. In this example, the select mechanism is constituted between thechassis 6 and the electronic circuit board 10.

At the drive shaft of the drive motor 119, a pulley 147 is attached. Anendless drive belt 120 is wound on the pulley 147. This drive belt 120is wound on a transmission pulley 148 rotatably supported at the otherprincipal surface side of the chassis 6 and a flywheel at the forwardside. Moreover, a flywheel 151 at the reverse side which forms a pairwith the flywheel 152 of the forward side is in contact with the drivebelt 120. In addition, the transmission pulley 148 is rotatablysupported through a support shaft 149 vertically provided at the otherprincipal surface side of the chassis 6.

Further, capstan shafts 17, 18 are respectively vertically provided atcentral portions of respective flywheels 152, 151, and base ends ofthese capstan shafts 17, 18 are supported by bearings 154, 153 attachedto the chassis 6 so that they are rotatably supported by the chassis 6.The first and second capstan shafts 17, 18 respectively verticallyprovided on the respective flywheels 152, 151 are projected toward thecassette loading portion 4 constituted at one principal surface side ofthe chassis 1 through respective bearings 154, 153. When the drive motor119 is rotationally driven, respective flywheels 152, 151 and respectivecapstan shafts 17, 18 vertically provided integrally with theseflywheels 152, 151, are rotationally operated in directions opposite toeach other.

At the plane surface side opposite to the flywheel 152 at the forwardside, a drive gear 319 is integrally provided. This drive gear 319 ismeshed with a first transmission gear 158 rotatably supported through asupport shaft 159 vertically provided at the other principal surfaceside of the chassis 6. At the central portion of the first transmissiongear 158, a cam drive gear 379 having a diameter smaller than that ofthe first transmission gear 158 is integrally provided. This cam drivegear 379 is faced to the outer circumferential portion of the cam gear320 rotatably supported by a support shaft 190 vertically provided atthe other principal surface side of the chassis 6, and is permitted tobe meshed with the gear portion 323 formed at the outer circumferentialedge portion of the cam gear 320.

Selection of respective operation modes in this tape recorder is carriedout in accordance with the rotational angular position of the cam gear320. Namely, at the other principal surface of the chassis 6, anoperation mode select lever 118 subjected to movement (shift) operationby the cam gear 320 is disposed. This operation mode select lever 118 isdisposed on the chassis 6 so that it can be moved within the range ofelongated holes 191, 188 by insertion-supporting support shafts 190, 189vertically provided on the chassis 6 and engaged with elongated holes191, 188 bored with their length directions along the diameter of thesupport shafts 190, 189.

The operation mode select lever 118 is such that, at one end thereof, aspring contact piece 187 is formed in a rising manner (hereinafterreferred to as rising-formed depending upon circumstances), and thatrespective arm portions of a torsional coil spring 186 supported on thechassis 6 are respectively in pressure-contact with the both sides ofthe spring contact piece 187. This torsional coil spring 186 issupported at the coil portion thereof by a support shaft 315 verticallyprovided on the chassis 6, and holds the operation mode select lever 118at a neutral position by allowing a pair of arm portions topressure-support the spring contact piece 187 from both sides throughbiasing forces directed opposite to each other. In the case where anyone of the stop mode, the fast feed mode and the rewind mode isselected, the operation mode select lever 118 is held at the neutralposition. In the state where the reproduction mode or the recording modeis selected, when the forward mode where the magnetic tape 206 istraveled in the forward direction is selected, the operation mode selectlever 118 is subjected to movement operation in the direction ofindicated by arrow T₁ in FIG. 8 against the biasing force of thetorsional coil spring 186. In addition, when the reverse mode where themagnetic tape 206 is traveled in the reverse direction is selected, theoperation mode select lever 118 is subjected to movement operation inthe direction indicated by T₂ of FIG. 8.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the cam gear 320 is provided witha gear portion 323 formed at the outer circumferential portion thereof,and three tooth missing portions 325, 324, 326 are formed between thegear portions 323. When any one of respective tooth missing portions325, 324, 326 is opposite to the cam driver gear 379, even if the camdrive gear 379 is rotated, drive force is not transmitted to the camgear 320. Thus, this cam gear 320 is placed in an inoperative state. Inaddition, when the gear portion 323 is opposite to the cam drive gear379, the cam gear 320 allows the gear portion 323 to be meshed with thecam drive gear 379. When the cam drive gear 379 is rotated, drive forceis transmitted to the cam gear 320. Thus, this cam gear 320 is subjectedto rotational operation.

At one principal surface side opposite to the other principal surface ofthe chassis 6 of the cam gear 320, first and second cam portions 321 and322 for allowing the operation mode select lever 118 to undergo movementoperation against biasing force of the torsional coil spring 186 areformed in a manner as shown in FIG. 18. The first cam portion 321 issuch that the plane surface of the inner circumferential side oppositeto the support shaft 190 which rotatably supports the cam gear 320 isformed as a first cam surface 321a with which a cam follower 192provided at the operation mode select lever 118 is in slide contact, andthe second cam portion 322 is such that the plane surface of the outercircumferential side facing the outer circumferential edge of the camgear 320 is formed as a second cam surface 322a with which the camfollower 192 provided at the operation mode select lever 118 is in slidecontact.

In this example, the cam follower 192 in slide contact with first andsecond cam portions 321, 322 is provided in a projected manner(hereinafter simply referred to as projected depending uponcircumstances) at the other end portion extended between the cam gear320 of the operation mode select lever 118 and the chassis 6.

When the cam gear 320 is placed in the state where it is rotated at theinitial position shown in FIG. 10, it allows the cam follower 192 to bepositioned at a cam follower admitting portion 320a constituted betweenend portions of the first and second cam portions 321, 322, thus placingthe operation mode select lever 118 at the neutral position. When thecam gear 320 is at the initial position, the cam drive gear 379 isopposite to the first tooth missing portion 325.

When the cam gear 320 is rotated in a clockwise direction which is thedirection indicated by R₁ in FIG. 18 from the initial position shown inFIG. 10, the cam follower 192 is admitted into the portion between firstand second cam portions 321, 322 from the cam follower admitting portion320a, and comes into slide contact with the first cam surface 321a. Whenthe cam gear 320 is further rotated in the direction indicated by arrowR₁ in FIG. 18, the cam follower 192 is moved closer to the support shaft190 while being guided by the first cam surface 321a. As a result, theoperation mode select lever 118 is moved in the direction indicated byarrow B₁ in FIG. 11 against the biasing force of the torsional coilspring 186. When the cam gear 320 is rotated by 130° in the directionindicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 18, it allows the cam follower 192 to comeinto slide contact with a maximum projected portion 338 of the first camsurface 321a to move the operation mode select lever 118 up to themaximum movement position in the direction indicated by B₁ in FIG. 11.When the cam gear 320 is further rotated by 5° in the directionindicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 18, i.e., by 135° from the initialposition, the cam follower 192 climbs over the maximum projected portion338 and comes into contact with an inclined surface portion 339following the maximum projected portion 338. When the cam follower 192comes into contact with the inclined surface portion 339, the operationmode select lever 118 is caused to undergo biasing force of thetorsional coil spring 186 so that it is slightly subjected to returnmovement in the direction indicated by arrow B₂ in FIG. 11 to select(switch) the operation mode of the tape recorder to therecording/reproduction mode in the forward direction in which themagnetic tape 206 is traveled at a constant velocity in the forwarddirection so that recording or reproduction is carried out. At thistime, the cam drive gear 379 is opposed to the second tooth missingportion 324 of the cam gear 320.

When the cam gear 320 is further rotated in the direction indicated byarrow R₁ in FIG. 18 from the position where the operation mode selectlever 118 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow B₁ in FIG. 11 sothat the recording/reproduction mode in the forward direction isselected, the cam follower 192 comes to a cam follower withdrawalportion 320b constituted between the other end portions of the first andsecond cam portions 321, 322, and is thus placed in the state where itis not in contact with both the first and second cam surfaces 321a,322a. When pressing state of the cam follower 192 by the cam gear 320 isreleased, the operation mode select lever 118 is caused to undergo thebiasing force of the torsional coil spring 186 so that it is returned tothe neutral position. When the cam gear 320 is further rotated in thedirection indicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 18 from the above-mentionedstate, the cam follower 192 climbs over the second cam surface 322a.When the cam gear 320 is further rotated in the direction indicated byarrow R₁ in FIG. 18 from the initial position, the cam follower 192 ismoved in a direction away from the support shaft 190 while being guidedby the second cam surface 322a. As a result, the operation mode selectlever 118 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow B₁ in FIG. 12against the biasing force of the torsional coil spring 186. When the camgear 320 is rotated by 130° in the direction indicated by R₁ in FIG. 18,it allows the cam follower 192 to be in slide contact with a maximumprojected portion 340 of the second cam surface 322a to move theoperation mode select lever 118 up to the maximum movement position inthe direction indicated by arrow B₂ in FIG. 12. When the cam gear 320 isfurther rotated by 5° in the direction indicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 18,i.e., by 270° from the initial position, the cam follower 192 climbsover the maximum projected portion 340 to come into contact with theinclined surface portion 341 following the maximum projected portion340. When the cam follower 192 comes into contact with the inclinedsurface portion 341, the operation mode select lever 118 is caused toundergo the biasing force of the torsional coil spring 186 so that it isslightly subjected to return movement in the direction indicated byarrow B₁ in FIG. 12, to thus select (switch) the operation mode of thetape recorder to the recording/reproduction mode in the reversedirection where the magnetic tape 206 is traveled at a constant velocityin the reverse direction so that recording or reproduction is carriedout. At this time, the cam drive gear 379 is opposite to the third toothmissing portion 326 of the cam gear 320.

When the cam gear 320 is further rotated in the direction indicated byarrow R₁ in FIG. 18, i.e., is rotated by 360° from the initial positionfrom the position where it is rotated up to the position where theoperation mode select lever 118 is moved in the direction indicated byarrow B₂ in FIG. 11 so that recording/reproduction mode in the reversedirection is selected, the cam follower 192 comes to the initialposition faced to the cam follower admitting portion 320a constitutedbetween end portions of the first and second cam portions 321, 322.Then, the operation mode select lever 118 is caused to undergo thebiasing force of the torsional coil spring 186 so that it is returned tothe neutral position. It is to be noted that when the operation modeselect lever 118 is located at the initial position, the stop mode, thefast feed mode or the rewind mode is selected in this tape recorder.

At the other principal surface side of the cam gear 320 for allowing theoperation mode select lever 118 to undergo movement operation, as shownin FIG. 19, there is formed a cam groove 327a with which a cam follower380 provided at the other end side of a rotational lever 199 having oneend connected to a plunger rod 377 of a solenoid plunger 301 androtationally operated by driving of the solenoid plunger 301 is engaged.This cam groove 327a is ring-shaped with the support shaft 190 being thecenter, and is adapted so that the plane surface of the outercircumferential side is a third cam surface 327 and the plane surface ofthe inner circumferential side is a fourth cam surface 328.

Meanwhile, the solenoid plunger 301 for rotationally operating therotational lever 199 which engages the cam follower 380 with the camgroove 327a is disposed at the other principal surface side of thechassis 6 as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 14 to 16. When this solenoidplunger 301 is in an OFF state which is an inoperative state, it biasesthe plunger rod 377 in a drawing direction. When there results ON stateas the result of energizing, the solenoid plunger 301 projects theplunger rod 377. The rotational lever 199 rotationally operated by thesolenoid plunger 301 is rotatably attached with a support shaft 200being the center by allowing one end thereof to be engaged with anengagement portion 373 formed at the front end of the plunger rod 377,allowing the cam follower 380 projected at the other end side to beengaged with cam groove 327a of the cam gear 320, and allowing themiddle portion to be supported by the support shaft 200 verticallyprovided on the chassis 6.

Moreover, at the other principal surface side of the chassis 6, a gearshift lever 175 for carrying out shift (movement) operation of theselect gear 184 in the tape traveling direction which will be describedlater is disposed. This gear shift lever 175 is such that one endportion thereof is rotatably supported through the support shaft 176vertically provided on the chassis 6, and that a contact piece 376formed at the middle portion is opposed to a pressing piece 374 providedin the middle portion of the rotational lever 199. In addition, therotational range of the gear shift lever 175 is limited by allowing anengagement piece 180 formed by bending the other end portion to beengaged with a rotation limit groove 181 bored in the chassis 6.

Respective arm portions of a torsional coil spring 368 rotatablysupported about a support shaft 375 are engaged with the gear shiftlever 175 and the rotational lever 199 in the state where the coilportion is wound on the support shaft 375 vertically provided on thechassis 6. The rotational lever 199 is such that the other end isrotationally biased in a direction away from the solenoid plunger 301 byallowing one arm portion of the torsional coil spring 368 to be engagedwith an engagement portion 370 provided at the other side. Moreover, thegear shift lever 175 is rotationally biased in a direction to allow thecontact piece 376 to become closer to the pressing piece 374 of therotational lever 199 by allowing the other arm portion of the torsionalcoil spring 368 to be engaged with an engagement piece 369 provided inthe vicinity of the support shaft 176.

Since the torsional coil spring 368 is such that the distance from thesupport shaft 176 of the gear shift lever 175 to the contact piece 376is longer than the distance from the support shaft 176 to the engagementpiece 369, and the distance from the support shaft 200 of the rotationallever 199 to the pressing piece 374 is shorter than the distance fromthe support shaft 200 to the engagement portion 370, a rotation torquegreater than the rotation torque produced by the gear shift lever 175 isproduced with respect to the rotational lever 199.

Accordingly, in the case where the solenoid plunger 301 is energized sothat an ON state results as shown in FIG. 15, when the plunger rod 377is projected toward the rotational lever 199, the torsional coil spring368 rotates the other end of the rotational lever 199 in the directionindicated by arrow C₁ in FIG. 15 away from the solenoid plunger 301 toallow the pressing piece 374 of the rotational lever 199 to come intocontact with the contact piece 376 of the gear shift lever 175 to rotatethe gear shift lever 175 against the biasing force of the torsional coilspring 368. At this time, the cam follower 380 provided at one end ofthe rotational lever 199 is placed in the state where it is in slidecontact with the fourth cam surface 328 of the outer circumferentialside of the cam gear 320.

Moreover, when the solenoid plunger 301 is in the OFF state whereenergization thereto is interrupted, and the plunger rod 377 is in adrawn state, the rotational lever 199 is rotated in the directionindicated by C₂ in FIG. 15 where the other end becomes closer to thesolenoid plunger 301, and the cam follower 380 provided at one end isplaced in the state where it is in slide contact with the third camsurface 317 of the cam gear 320.

When the cam gear 320 is located at the initial position, the camfollower 380 provided at the rotational lever 190 is in contact andengaged with the first holding portion 329 formed at the third camsurface 327 as shown in FIG. 19 so that rotation in the directionindicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19 is limited. When the cam gear 320 islocated at the initial position, the cam drive gear 379 is opposite tothe first tooth missing portion 325.

When the solenoid plunger 301 is energized so that it is placed in theON state, and the plunger rod 377 is thus projected so that therotational lever 199 is rotationally operated in the direction indicatedby arrow C₁ in FIG. 15, the cam follower 380 is moved toward the outercircumferential side of the cam gear 320 to release engagement with thefirst holding portion 329, and to come into contact with a firstinclined surface 332 formed at the fourth cam surface 328 of the outercircumferential side of the cam groove 327a to press the first inclinedsurface 332. When the cam follower 380 presses the first inclinedsurface 332, the cam gear 320 is slightly rotated in the directionindicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19, so the gear portion 323 is meshed withthe cam drive gear 379. Then, drive force from the cam drive gear 379 istransmitted to the cam gear 320. By this cam drive gear 379, the camgear 320 is placed in the state where it can be rotated in the directionindicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19. When the cam drive gear 379 is drivenfrom the above-mentioned state so that the cam gear 320 is furtherrotationally operated in the direction indicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19,and it is rotated up to the position to allow the cam follower 380 to bein contact with the second inclined surface 333 of the fourth camportion 328, energization to the solenoid plunger 301 is interrupted sothat it is placed in the OFF state. As a result, the plunger rod 377 ismoved in the drawing direction to rotate the rotational lever 199 in thedirection indicated by arrow C₂ in FIG. 15 to move the cam follower 380to the third cam surface 327 of the inner circumferential side of thecam groove 327a.

When the cam gear 320 is rotated by 135° in the direction indicated byarrow R₁ in FIG. 19 from the initial position, the cam follower 380 isengaged with the second holding portion 330 of the third cam plate 327to limit rotation of the cam gear 320. At this time, a biasing force ofthe torsional coil spring 186 for biasing the operation mode selectlever 118 which allows the cam follower 192 to come into contact withfirst and second cam portions 321, 322 formed at one principal surfaceside with respect to the cam gear 320 is transmitted through the camfollower 192 and the inclined surface 339 of the first cam surface 321a.Then, the cam gear 320 is placed in the state where it is rotationallybiased in the direction indicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19. At this time,the cam drive gear 379 is opposite to the second tooth missing portion324 of the cam gear 320.

When the solenoid plunger 302 is energized for a second time so that itis placed in the ON state, the rotational lever 199 is rotated in thedirection indicated by arrow C₁ in FIG. 15. As a result, the camfollower 380 provided at the rotational lever 199 is moved toward theouter circumferential side of the cam gear 320. Thus, engagement withrespect to the second holding portion 330 is released. Then, the camfollower 380 presses the third inclined surface 334 formed at the fourthcam surface 328 formed at the outer circumferential side of the camgroove 327a. When the cam follower 380 presses the third inclinedsurface 334, the cam gear 320 is caused to undergo pressing force fromthe cam follower 380 so that it is slightly rotated in the directionindicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19. As a result, the gear portion 323 ofthe cam gear 320 is meshed with the cam drive gear 379. Thus, the camgear 320 is caused to undergo drive force from the cam drive gear 379 sothat it is placed in the state where it can be rotated in the directionindicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19. When the cam drive gear 379 is drivenfrom this state so that the cam gear 320 is further rotationallyoperated in the direction indicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19, and it isrotated up to the position to allow the cam follower 380 to be incontact with the fourth inclined surface 335 of the fourth cam portion328, energization to the solenoid plunger 301 is interrupted so that itis placed in the OFF state. As a result, the plunger rod 377 is moved inthe drawing direction to rotate the rotational lever 199 in thedirection indicated by arrow C₂ in FIG. 15 to move the cam follower 380to the third cam surface 327 of the inner circumferential side of thecam groove 327a.

When the cam gear 320 is rotated by 270° in the direction indicated byarrow R₁ in FIG. 19 from the initial position, the cam follower 380 isengaged with the third holding portion 331 of the third cam surface 327to limit rotation of the cam gear 320. At this time, the biasing forceof the torsional coil spring 186 which biases the operation mode selectlever 118 is transmitted to the cam gear 320 through the cam follower192 and the inclined surface 341 of the second cam surface 322a. Thus,the cam gear 320 is placed in the state where it is rotationally biasedin the direction indicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19. At this time, the camdrive gear 379 is opposed to the third tooth missing portion 326 of thecam gear 320. When the solenoid plunger 302 is energized for a secondtime so that it is placed in the ON state, the rotational lever 199 isrotated in the direction indicated by arrow C₁ in FIG. 15. As a result,the cam follower 380 is moved toward the outer circumferential side ofthe cam gear 320. Thus, engagement with respect to the third holdingportion 331 is released. Then, the cam follower 380 presses a fifthinclined surface 336 formed at the fourth cam surface 328 formed at theouter circumferential side of the cam groove 327a. When the cam follower380 presses the fifth inclined surface 336, the cam gear 320 is causedto undergo pressing force from the cam follower 380 so that it isslightly rotated in the direction indicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19. As aresult, the gear portion 323 of the cam gear 320 is meshed with the camdrive gear 379. Thus, the cam gear 320 is caused to undergo drive forcefrom the cam drive gear 379 so that it is placed in the state where itcan be rotated in the direction indicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19.

When the cam drive gear 379 is driven from the above-mentioned state sothat the cam gear 320 is further rotationally operated in the directionindicated by arrow R₁ in FIG. 19, and it is rotated up to the positionwhere it allows the cam follower 380 to be in contact with a sixthinclined surface 337 of the fourth cam portion 328, energization to thesolenoid plunger 301 is interrupted so that it is placed in the OFFstate. As a result, the plunger rod 377 is moved in the drawingdirection to move the rotational lever 199 in the direction indicated byarrow C₂ in FIG. 15, thus to move the cam follower 380 to the third camsurface 327 of the inner circumferential side of the cam groove 327a.

When the cam gear 320 is rotated by 360° in the direction indicated byarrow R₁ in FIG. 19 from the initial position, i.e., until it isreturned to the initial position, the cam follower 380 is engaged withthe first holding portion 329 of the third cam surface 327 to limitrotation of the cam gear 320. At this time, the cam drive gear 379 isopposed to the first tooth missing portion 325 of the cam gear 320.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, a head movement lever 313rotatably attached on the chassis 6 is connected to the operation modeselect lever 118 through the support shaft 126 vertically provided onthe chassis 6. This head movement lever 313 is rotationally operated inaccordance with movement of the operation mode select lever 118. Namely,the head movement lever 313 is positioned in the vicinity of theoperation mode select lever 118, and is connected, with a fittingprojection 354 which has a substantially circular shape projected at oneside of the operation mode select lever 118 that fits into a fittingrecessed portion 355, to the opposite side of the operation mode selectlever 118. This head movement lever 313 is rotationally operated withthe fitting projection 354 being the center by allowing the operationmode select lever 118 to undergo movement operation. When the headmovement lever 313 is rotationally operated with the fitting projection354 being the center, it moves the head supporting base 13 on which themagnetic head 9 is attached to move the magnetic head 9 toward thecassette loading portion 4. The magnetic head 9 that is moved toward thecassette loading portion 4 side is admitted into the magnetic headinsertion hole 207 of the tape cassette 201 loaded into the cassetteloading portion 4, and is caused to be in slide contact with themagnetic tape 206 traveling within the tape cassette 201.

It is to be noted that the head supporting base 13 is always biased by atension spring 312 in a direction to allow the magnetic head 9 to bewithdrawn from the cassette 209.

Moreover, at the head supporting base 13, a pair of arm portions 13a,13b extend toward the operation mode select lever 118 side in a mannersuch that the head movement lever 313 is positioned therebetween, andfirst and second pressing pieces 362, 363 opposite to the head movementlever 313 are formed at the front ends of these arm portions 13a, 13b.When the head movement lever 313 is rotationally operated with thesupport shaft 126 being the center, first or second pressing operationpieces 362, or 363 undergo pressing operation by first or secondpressing operation pieces 357 or 359 formed on the both sides of thehead movement lever 313, the head supporting base 13 is caused toundergo movement operation in the cassette loading portion 4 direction.Namely, in the recording/reproduction mode in the forward mode, the headmovement lever 313 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.11 with the support shaft 126 being the center. Thus, the first pressingoperation piece 357 formed at the right in FIG. 11 presses the firstpressing piece 362 of the head supporting base 13. Moreover, in thereverse direction reproduction mode, the head movement lever 313 isrotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 12 with the support shaft 126being the center. Thus, the second pressing operation piece 359 formedat the left in FIG. 12 presses the second pressing piece 363 of the headsupporting base 13.

Moreover, at the other principal surface side of the chassis 6, a headpositioning lever 117 for supporting the magnetic head 9, which has beenmoved toward the cassette loading portion 4, at that movement positionis slidably disposed. This head positioning lever 117 is supported onthe chassis 6 in such a manner that the front end thereof faces the headsupporting base 13 and the head movement lever 313, and that it can bemoved in directions indicated by arrows Q₁ and Q₂ in FIG. 10 which aredirections to become closer to the head supporting base 13 and awaytherefrom. Moreover, the head positioning lever 117 is such that thefront end thereof is biased in the direction indicated by arrow Q₁ inFIG. 10 to allow the front end to become closer to the head supportingbase 13 by the torsional coil spring 195 disposed on the chassis 6 asshown in FIG. 9. It is to be noted that biasing position of the headpositioning lever 117 by the torsional coil spring 195 is limited byallowing the contact piece 365 formed at the front end portion thereofto come into contact with the contact pin 364 vertically provided on thehead movement lever 313 as shown in FIG. 11.

Further, at the front end portion of the head positioning lever 117,first and second holding step portions 115, 116 at which a holding piece366 formed at the head supporting base 13 is selectively held are formedin a stair-step form.

In the tape recorder of this embodiment, when the tape recorder is inthe stop mode and the magnetic head 9 is located at the positionwithdrawn from the cassette loading portion 4, the head supporting base13 is placed in the state where no positioning is carried out by thehead positioning lever 117 as shown in FIG. 10. Namely, the holdingpiece 366 is placed at the position away (spaced) from the first andsecond holding step portions 115, 116 as shown in FIG. 10.

In the tape recorder of this embodiment, when recording and/orreproduction mode in the forward direction or in the reverse directionis selected, and the magnetic head 9 is advanced toward the cassetteloading portion 4 and is then moved to the position where it is admitted(advanced) into the head insertion hole 207 of the tape cassette 201loaded into the cassette loading portion 4, the holding piece 366 formedat the head supporting base 13 is held by the first holding step portion115 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, thus to allow the magnetic head 9 toundergo positioning so that it is held at the recording/reproductionposition advanced toward the cassette loading portion 4. The positioninghold state of the head supporting base 13 by the head positioning lever117 is maintained by allowing the head positioning lever 117 to bebiased in the direction indicated by arrow Q₁ in FIG. 11 by thetorsional coil spring 195. On the other hand, release of the positioninghold state of the head supporting base 13 is carried out by rotating thehead movement lever 313 to move the head positioning lever 117 in thedirection indicated by arrow Q₁ in FIG. 11 against the biasing force ofthe torsional coil spring 195.

Moreover, in the tape recorder of this embodiment, when after therecording/reproduction mode for traveling the magnetic tape 206 at aconstant velocity is once set, the stop mode, the fast feed mode, therewind mode, or the music select mode to travel the magnetic tape 206 athigh speed to carry out detection of music which is music signalrecorded on the magnetic tape 206 is selected, the head movement(transfer) lever 313 is returned to the initial position, whereby thehead positioning lever 117 is also returned to the initial position.However, the holding piece 366 formed at the head supporting base 13 isheld by the second holding portion 116 as shown in FIG. 13. Accordingly,at this time, the magnetic head 9 is caused to undergo positioning sothat it is held at a wait position which is withdrawn from the recordingand/or reproducing position, but is advanced toward the head loadingportion 4 with respect to the stop position.

Further, the head movement arm 313 selectively rotationally operatesfirst and second pinch roller rotational operation levers 304, 305rotatably attached to the chassis 6. These pinch roller rotationaloperation levers 304, 305 are positioned on both sides of the magnetichead 9 attached on the head supporting base 13, and are rotatablyattached with these support shafts 306, 307 being the center in thestate where their central portions are supported by support shafts 306,307 vertically provided on the head supporting base 13.

At one end positioned at the head supporting base 13 side of the firstand second pinch roller rotational operation levers 304, 305, contactpieces 310, 311 are formed. At the other end thereof, pressing operationpieces 308, 309 are formed. These pressing operation pieces 308, 309 areprojected toward the cassette loading portion 4 side constituted at oneprincipal surface side of the chassis 6 through opening portions 314,314 opened in the chassis 6.

Moreover, the first and second pinch rollers 11, 12 adapted toselectively come into contact with the first and second capstans 17, 18or become away therefrom are rotatably attached at one end side of apinch roller supporting arm 157 rotatably supported through supportshafts 155, 155 vertically provided on the chassis 6. These first andsecond pinch rollers 11, 12 are rotatably supported at one end by thepinch roller supporting arms 157, 157 rotatably supported through thesupport shafts 155, 155 vertically provided on the chassis 6. Thesepinch roller supporting arms 157, 157 are rotationally biased in adirection to allow the first and second pinch rollers 11, 12 supportedat one end thereof to be respectively in pressure contact with the firstand second capstan shafts 17, 18 by torsional coil springs 156, 156wound on the support shafts 155, 155.

The head movement lever 313 is rotationally operated by allowing theoperation mode select lever 118 to undergo movement (transfer)operation. As a result, the first and second pressing operation pieces357, 359 allow the contact pieces 310, or 311 to undergo pressingoperation, thus to rotationally operate the first or second pinch rollerrotational operation lever 304 or 305 with the support shaft 306 or 307being as the center. When the first or second pinch roller movement arm304 or 305 is rotationally operated, the pressing operation piece 308 or309 allows one arm portion of the torsional coil spring 156 or 156 toundergo pressing operation toward the first or second capstan shaft 17or 18 side.

When the tape recorder of this embodiment is set to therecording/reproduction mode in the forward mode, second pressingoperation piece 359 of the head movement lever 313 allows the contactpiece 311 of the first pinch roller rotational operation lever 305 ofthe forward side to undergo pressing operation as shown in FIG. 11. Inaddition, when the recording/reproduction mode in the reverse mode isset, the first pressing operation piece 357 of the head transfer lever313 allows the contact piece 310 of the second pinch roller rotationaloperation lever 304 of the reverse side to undergo pressing operation.

In this example, engagement pins 361, 364 with which operation modedetecting switch (not shown) are engaged are provided at the headmovement lever 313. This operation mode detecting switch detectsrotational direction of the head movement (transfer) lever 313, thus todetect the operation mode that the tape recorder of this embodimentselects among the recording/reproduction mode in the forward mode, therecording/reproduction mode in the reverse mode and the stop mode.

The first transmission gear 158, which is meshed with the drive gear 319provided at the flywheel 152 of the forward side and is caused toundergo transmission of drive force of the drive motor 119, is meshedwith the second transmission gear 160 rotatably supported at the supportshaft 163 vertically provided on the other principal surface side of thechassis 6. As shown in FIG. 7, a clutch gear 162 is coaxially attachedto the second transmission gear 160 through a friction member 161. Whenthe second transmission gear 160 is rotated, the clutch gear 162 iscaused to undergo transmission of drive force through friction force ofthe friction member 161 interposed between the clutch gear 162 and thesecond transmission gear 160 SO that it is rotationally operated.

A fluctuation gear 164 rotatably supported by a support shaft 165vertically provided at the front end of a fluctuation lever 198 with thesupport shaft 163 which supports the second transmission gear 160 beingas the center is meshed with the clutch gear 162. When the fluctuationlever 198 is rotated with the support shaft 165 being as the center, theabove-mentioned fluctuation gear 164 is rotated around the clutch gear162.

The fluctuation lever 198 is as shown in FIG. 11 such that, at the frontends of a pair of arm portions projected on the both sides thereof,first and second contact pieces 350, 351 which are respectively incontact with first and second pressing operation pieces 352, 353 formedat the other side of the operation mode select lever 118 are formed.When the recording/reproduction mode in the forward mode is selected,and the operation mode select lever 118 is slid in the directionindicated by arrow B₁ in FIG. 11, the second pressing operation piece353 presses the second contact piece 351 to rotate the fluctuation lever198 in the direction indicated by arrow D₁ in FIG. 11 with the supportshaft 163 being the center. In addition, when the recording/reproductionmode in the reverse mode is selected, and the operation mode selectlever 118 is slid in the direction indicated by arrow B₂ in FIG. 11, thefirst pressing operation piece 352 presses the first contact piece 350to rotate the fluctuation lever 198 in the direction indicated by arrowD₂ in FIG. 12 with the support shaft 163 being the center.

When the tape recorder of this embodiment is set to therecording/reproduction mode in the forward mode, the fluctuation gear164 is meshed with a third transmission gear 171 rotatably supportedthrough a support shaft 172 vertically provided on the chassis 6. Thisthird transmission gear 171 is meshed with a fourth transmission gear173 rotatably supported by a support shaft 174 vertically provided onthe chassis 6. This fourth transmission gear 173 is meshed with a reelgear 302 of the tape winding side which is the first reel gear attachedat the base end portion projected toward the other principal surfaceside of the chassis 6 of a reverse drive shaft 19 of the tape windingside. Namely, in the recording/reproduction mode in the forward mode,drive force of the drive motor 119 is transmitted to the reel driveshaft 19 of the tape winding side through the clutch gear 162, and thereel drive shaft 19 is rotationally operated by rotation torque in whichthe rotation torque transmitted to the clutch gear 162 is caused to beupper limit value.

Moreover, when the tape recorder of this embodiment is set to therecording/reproduction mode in the reverse mode, a fluctuation gear 164is meshed with a fifth transmission gear 166 rotatably supported throughthe support shaft 167 vertically provided on the chassis 6. This fifthtransmission gear 166 is meshed with a reel gear 169 of the tape supplyside which is the second reel gear attached at the base end portionprojected toward the other principal surface side of the chassis 6 ofthe reel drive shaft 20 of the tape supply side. Namely, in therecording/reproduction mode in the reverse mode, drive force of thedrive motor 119 is transmitted to the reel drive shaft 20 of the tapesupply side through the clutch gear 162. Thus, this reel drive shaft 20is rotationally operated by rotation torque in which the rotation torquetransmitted to the clutch gear 162 is an upper limit value.

In this example, at the fifth transmission gear 166, a speed detectionplate 168 for detecting rotational speed of the fifth transmission gear166 by optical sensor is attached.

In the vicinity of the other end side of the gear shift lever 175, agear supporting lever 183 which rotatably supports a select gear 184 forselecting (switching) the tape traveling direction is disposed. Thisgear supporting lever 183 has an elongated hole at the base end thereof,and is rotatably and slidably supported in the state where support shaft182 vertically provided on the chassis 6 is inserted into the elongatedhole. At the front end of the gear supporting lever 183, the select gear184 is rotatably supported through a support shaft 185. In addition, atthe other end of the gear movement lever 175, a groove 178 which takescircular arc shape into which the support shaft 185 for supporting theselect gear 184 is inserted is formed.

The select gear 184 is adapted so that it comes into contact with thesecond transmission gear 160 or moves away therefrom by rotation of thegear movement lever 175.

Moreover, at the gear movement lever 175, a rack gear 179 opposite tothe outer peripheral edge of the second transmission gear 160 isprovided in a manner to face one side edge of the groove 178 as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9. This rack gear 179 extends over a range shorter than thegroove 178. Accordingly, when the support shaft 185 which supports theselect gear 184 is moved in the state guided by the groove 178, theselect gear 184 is meshed with the rack gear 179. When the support shaft185 is located at both end portions of the groove 178, the select gear184 is caused to be off from the rack gear 179.

Between the gear movement lever 175 and the operation mode select lever118, a movement limit lever 197 which limits movement of the gearmovement lever 175 is disposed as shown in FIG. 10. This movement limitlever 197 has a pair of elongated holes 344, 346. By inserting thesupport shafts 343, 345 vertically provided on the chassis 6 into theseelongated holes 346, 346, the movement limit lever 197 is supported sothat it can be moved (transferred) in a direction extending between thegear movement lever 175 and the operation mode select lever 118. At theend portion of the side facing the gear movement lever 175 of themovement limit lever 197, a pressing operation piece 372 which is incontact with a first contact piece 347 formed at the gear shift lever175 is formed as shown in FIG. 14. In addition, at the end portion ofthe side facing the operation mode select lever 118 of the movementlimit lever 197, a second contact piece 348 in which the central concaveportion is provided. At the portion opposite to the second contact piece348 of the operation mode select lever 118, an engagement projection 349engaged with the concave portion of the contact piece 348 is provided.

When the tape recorder of this embodiment is in the stop mode which isthe initial state, since the plunger rod 377 of the solenoid plunger 301is located at the drawing position as shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, the gearmovement lever 175 is caused to undergo the biasing force of thetorsional coil spring 368 so that it is rotationally biased to move theselect gear 184 in the tape traveling direction toward the secondtransmission gear 160 side to allow them to be meshed with each other.In this stop mode, when the support shaft 185 is positioned at any endportion of the groove 178, the select gear 184 is meshed with any one ofthe fifth transmission gear 166 and the fourth transmission gear 173.

In the stop mode, when the second transmission gear 160 is rotated inthe direction indicated by arrow E₁ or in the direction indicated by E₂in FIG. 17, the select gear 184 maintains the state where it is meshedwith the second transmission gear 160 depending upon the rotationdirection of the second transmission gear 160. Thus, the select gear 184is caused to undergo movement operation in the direction indicated byarrow F₁ or in the direction indicated by arrow F₂ in FIG. 17 about thesecond transmission gear 160. Namely, in the state where the select gear184 is meshed with any one of the fourth and fifth transmission gears173, 166, when the second transmission gear 160 is rotated in adirection to allow the portion meshed with the select gear 184 to bedirected to any one of the transmission gears 173 and 166, the selectgear 184 is rotated in a direction where it is bored into any one oftransmission gears 173 and 166. For this reason, the select gear 184maintains the meshed state with respect to one gear to hold it to rotatethat one gear. When the select gear 184 is meshed with the fourthtransmission gear 173 to rotate the fourth transmission gear 173, thefast feed mode where the reel gear 302 of the tape winding side iscaused to undergo rotational operation is set. When the select gear 184is meshed with the fifth transmission gear 166 to rotate the fifthtransmission gear 166, rewinding mode where reel gear 169 of the tapesupply side is caused to undergo rotational operation is set.

In the state where the select gear 184 is meshed with any one of thefourth and fifth transmission gears 173, 166, when the secondtransmission gear 160 is rotated in a direction to allow the portionmeshed with the select gear 184 to be directed to the other gear of thefourth and fifth transmission gears 173, 166, the select gear 184 isrotated in a direction to escape from the other transmission gear 173,or 166. For this reason, it becomes impossible to hold meshing withrespect to one gear because of the load that transmission gear 173, or166 has. Accordingly, the select gear 184 rotates a gear supportinglever 183 in a direction to become away from the one gear. When the gearsupporting lever 183 is rotated even a little in a direction to moveaway from one of the fourth and fifth transmission gears 173, 166, theselect gear 184 is meshed with the rack gear 179. Accordingly, theselect gear 184 is placed in the state where it is meshed with thesecond transmission gear 160 and the rack gear 179. Thus, the selectgear 184 is moved until it is meshed with the other gear of the fourthand fifth transmission gears 173, 166 in accordance with rotationdirection of the second transmission gear 160.

When the shift gear 184 is not meshed with both the fourth and fifthtransmission gears 173, 166, the select gear 184 is placed in the statewhere it is meshed with the rack gear 179. When the second transmissiongear 160 is rotated, the select gear 184 is moved until it is meshedwith any one of the fourth and fifth transmission gears 173, 166 inaccordance with the rotational direction of the second transmission gear160.

Namely, in accordance with the tape recorder of this embodiment, whenthe drive motor 119 is driven in forward or reverse direction in thestate where the stop mode is set, the fast feed mode or the rewindingmode is executed.

In the tape recorder of this embodiment, when the recording/reproductionmode is selected to be the forward mode or in the reverse mode, thesolenoid plunger 301 is turned ON. As a result, the plunger rod 377 ismoved in the direction indicated by arrow K₁ in FIG. 15. Thus, therotational lever 199 is caused to undergo the biasing force of thetorsional coil spring 368 so that it is rotated in the directionindicated by arrow C₁ in FIG. 15 to rotate the gear shift lever 175 inthe direction indicated by arrow L₁ in FIG. 15 against the biasing forceof the torsional coil spring 368. By rotation of the gear shift lever175, the select gear 184 moves away from the second transmission gear160.

Namely, in this tape recorder, when the solenoid plunger 301 is broughtinto the ON state, the select gear 184 is away from the secondtransmission gear 160 before the cam gear 320 is caused to undergorotational operation.

When the cam gear 320 is rotationally operated so thatrecording/reproduction mode in the forward mode or in the reverse modeis set, the rotational lever 199 is rotated in the direction indicatedby arrow L₂ in FIG. 16 by rotation of the cam gear 320 so that it isreturned to the initial position. As a result, the solenoid plunger 301is placed in the OFF state so that the plunger rod 377 is moved in thedirection indicated by arrow K₂ in FIG. 16. Thus, the operation modeselect lever 118 is caused to undergo movement operation in thedirection indicated by N₁ in FIG. 16.

When the recording/reproduction mode is set, and the rotational lever199 is returned to the initial position, the gear shift lever 175 iscaused to undergo the biasing force of the torsional coil spring 368 sothat it is rotationally biased in the initial position direction whichis the direction indicated by arrow L₂ in FIG. 16 where the select gear184 is caused to be meshed with the second transmission gear 160. Inthis case, rotation in the initial position direction is limited by themovement limit lever 197. Namely, when the operation mode select lever118 is caused to undergo movement operation from the state where it issupported by the torsional coil spring 186 so that it is located at theneutral position in the direction indicated by arrow N₁ or in thedirection indicated by arrow N₂ in FIG. 14, the movement limit lever 197allows the engagement projection 349 to come into contact with theposition where the engagement projection 349 is away from a concaveportion 348a of a second contact piece 348 as shown in FIG. 16. Thus,the movement limit lever 197 is moved in the direction indicated byarrow M₁ in FIG. 16. The movement limit lever 197 allows the firstcontact piece 347 to come into contact with the pressing operation piece372 of the gear shift lever 175 to thereby hold the position of the gearshift lever 175 so that the select gear 184 is located at the positionaway (spaced) from the second transmission gear 160.

Namely, in the tape recorder of this embodiment, whenrecording/reproduction mode is set in the forward mode or in the reversemode, the select gear 184 is caused to be away from the secondtransmission gear 160. When the operation mode select lever 118 islocated at the neutral position and the rotational lever 199 is locatedat the initial position, the select gear 184 is pressed with respect tothe second transmission gear 160, whereby it is meshed with the secondtransmission gear 160 for a second time.

5! Cover Lock Mechanism

The cover lock mechanism for locking, at the closing position, the coverbody 5 for opening and closing the cassette loading portion 4 will nowbe described.

This cover lock mechanism is disposed at the short side opposite to theshort side of the recorder body 1 in which the hinge portion forsupporting the cover body 5 is disposed, i.e., at the position oppositeto the opening end of the cover body 5. This cover lock mechanismincludes, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, and FIGS. 23, 25 and 26, an ejectoperation lever 108, and a lock lever 23 engaged with the cover body 5.The eject operation lever 108 is disposed on the chassis 6 and isoperated by inserting slide guide pins 124, 123 vertically provided onthe chassis 6 into a pair of elongated holes 132, 133 having longdiameter in the movement direction, whereby it can be moved in thedirection indicated by arrow F₁ and in the direction indicated by arrowF₂ in FIG. 23 within the range of elongated holes 132, 133. At one endfacing externally from the short side of the recorder body 1 of theeject operation lever 108, a pressing operation piece 22 is bent andformed.

Moreover, the eject operation lever 108 is caused to undergo movementbiasing in a direction to project from the recorder body 1 in thedirection indicated by arrow F₂ in FIG. 23, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,by a torsional coil spring 109 attached so that the coil portion issupported on a spring supporting portion 145 formed at the ejectoperation lever 108, one arm portion 109a is held by a spring holdingpiece 146 formed at the chassis 6, and the other arm portion 109b isheld by a spring holding piece 108a formed at the eject operation lever108. The eject operation lever 108 is caused to undergo movementoperation inwardly of the recorder body 1 in the direction indicated byarrow F₁ in FIG. 23 against the biasing force of the torsional coilspring 109 when a pressing operation piece 22 is subjected to pressingoperation.

It is to be noted that the pressing operation piece 22 of the ejectoperation lever 108 is caused to undergo pressing operation through andeject button 73 attached at the outer frame 3.

The other arm portion 109b of the torsional coil spring 109 for biasingthe eject operation lever 108 is further extended from the springholding piece 108a formed at the eject operation lever 108, and isengaged with engagement piece 342 formed at one end of an eject lever110 rotatably attached through a support shaft 111 vertically providedon the chassis 6. When the pressing operation piece 22 is caused toundergo pressing operation through the eject button 73 and the ejectoperation lever 108 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow F₁ inFIG. 8 against the biasing force of the torsional coil spring 109, theeject lever 110 is pressed by the other arm portion 109b of thetorsional coil spring 109 so that it is rotationally operated in thedirection indicated by G₁ in FIG. 9 with the support shaft 111 being thecenter.

Moreover, the lock lever 23 is slidably attached to the side plate 2along the short side of the chassis 6 as shown in FIGS. 6, 25 and 26.This lock lever 23 is movably supported on the side plate 7 in thedirection indicated by H₁ and in the direction indicated by H₂ in FIGS.25 and 26 in the state where a pair of supporting pins 101, 102vertically provided on the side plate 7 are inserted into first andsecond elongated holes 103, 104 as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26. This locklever 23 is movably biased in the direction indicated by arrow H₁ inFIGS. 25 and 26 which is the direction where a lock piece 24 is engagedwith an engagement portion 100 by a compression coil spring 137interposed between the lock lever 23 and the side plate 7. Further, alock piece 24 which is relatively engaged with the engagement portion100 provided at the opening end of the cover body 5 is formed at thelock lever 23. This lock lever 23 locks the cover body 5 at the closingposition by allowing the lock piece 24 to be engaged with the engagementportion 100.

Meanwhile, since the first elongated hole 103 formed at the lock lever23 is formed in a manner inclined with respect to the principal surfaceof the chassis 6 as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, when the lock lever 23 isslid in a direction to allow the lock piece 24 to be engaged with theengagement portion 100 or to be disengaged therefrom, the lock lever 23is moved in the direction indicated by arrow H₁ and in the directionindicated by arrow H₂ in FIGS. 25 and 26 in such a manner that itrotates with the supporting pin 102 inserted through the secondelongated hole 104 being as the center. Accordingly, an amount ofmovement of the lock lever 23 when engagement/disengagement between thelock piece 24 and the engagement portion 100 is carried out can bereduced. Thus, miniaturization of the cover lock mechanism is realized.

In this case, the engagement portion 100 provided at the cover body 5side is formed integrally with one portion of a decorative plate 5aformed of synthetic resin or a metal plate attached to the front endportion of the cover body 5.

Moreover, at one end portion of the lock lever 23, there is projected apressing piece 143 opposite to a pressing operation piece 144 formed atthe eject lever 110. The lock lever 23 which has caused the lock piece24 to be engaged with the engagement portion 100 and has locked thecover body 5 at the position where the cassette loading portion 4constituted at one principal surface side of the chassis 6 is closed issuch that when the eject operation lever 108 is caused to undergomovement operation in the direction indicated by arrow F₁ in FIG. 8against the biasing force of the torsional coil spring 109 and the ejectlever 110 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow G₁ in FIG. 9,the pressing piece 143 is caused to undergo pressing operation throughthe pressing operation piece 144 formed at the eject lever 110. When thepressing piece 143 is caused to undergo pressing operation, the locklever 23 is moved in the direction indicated by H₂ in FIG. 25 againstthe biasing force of the compression coil spring 137 to releaseengagement with respect to the engagement 100 of the lock piece 24, thusallowing the cover body 5 to be placed in the state where it can beopened.

Meanwhile, when the recording and/or reproducing mode is selected, evenif the eject operation lever 108 is caused to undergo movementoperation, movement of the lock lever 23 is limited by the operationmode select lever 118 constituting the operation mode select mechanism.As a result, the engagement state between the lock piece 24 and theengagement portion 100 is maintained. Thus, opening operation of thecover body 5 is limited. Namely, at the other end portion of theoperation mode select lever 118, a rotation limit piece 122 is formed toface one side of the eject lever 110 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, thuslimiting rotation in the eject direction which is the directionindicated by G₁ in FIGS. 8 and 9 with the support shaft 111 of the ejectlever 110 being the center.

When the tape recorder of this embodiment is set to therecording/reproduction mode, and the operation mode select lever 118 ismoved in the direction indicated by B₁ or in the direction indicated byB₂ in FIGS. 11 and 12 against the biasing force of the torsional coilspring 186, the rotation limit piece 122 is opposite to one side of theeject lever 110 to limit rotation in the direction indicated by G₁ inFIGS. 11 and 12 of the eject lever 110 to prohibit the eject operation.By limiting the rotation of the eject lever 110, movement of the locklever 23 is also limited. Thus, opening operation of the cover body 5 islimited.

Moreover, in the case where the tape recorder of this embodiment is setto any one of operation modes of the stop mode, the fast feed mode, therewinding mode and the music select mode, the operation mode selectlever 118 is caused to undergo the biasing force of the torsional coilspring 186 as previously described so that it is placed at the neutralposition. At this time, the rotation limit piece 122 formed at theoperation mode select lever 118 is opposed to a cut portion 121 formedat one side of the eject lever 110 to permit rotation in the directionindicated by arrow G₁ in FIGS. 11 and 12 of the eject lever 110 so thatthe eject operation can be made.

It is to be noted that in the case where the eject operation lever 108is caused to undergo pressing operation in the state where rotation ofthe eject lever 110 is limited, the torsional coil spring 109 is causedto undergo elastic (resilient) displacement to absorb pressing force tolimit that large load applied to the eject lever 110.

In order to carry out opening operation of the cover body 5 which is inthe position where the cassette loading portion 4 is closed (covered),when the eject operation lever 108 is caused to undergo pressingoperation so that rotational operation in the direction indicated byarrow G, in FIGS. 11 and 12 of the eject lever 110 is carried out, themagnetic head 9 is withdrawn from the cassette loading portion 4 suchthat it is not in contact with the tape cassette 201 held by thecassette holder 8 before the cover body 5 starts pivoting in the openingdirection. Namely, at the eject lever 110, there is provided anengagement pin 112 engaged with an engagement hole 113 provided at theback end side portion of the head positioning lever 117 as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9. When the eject lever 110 is rotated by the ejectoperation lever 108 through the torsional coil spring 109, it withdrawsthe head positioning lever 117 through the engagement pin 112 to releaseengagement with respect to the head supporting base 13 of the headpositioning lever 117.

The opening operation of the cover body 5 is carried out by the biasingforce of a tension spring 64 and a spring 138 when the locked state ofthe lock lever 23 is released as shown in FIG. 22. Timing of the startof the opening operation of the cover body 5 and withdrawal to thewithdrawal position from the cassette loading portion 4 of the magnetichead 9 are prescribed (limited) by the shape of the eject lever 110 andthe positional relationship of the eject lever 10, the lock lever 23 andthe operation mode select lever 118.

In this example, the eject operation button 73 which operates the coverlock mechanism to carry out opening/closing operation of the cover body5 is disposed at the front face which faces the short side opposite tothe short side of the recorder body 1 which pivotably supports the coverbody 5. In addition, at the front face of the recorder body 1 where theeject operation button 73 is disposed, there are disposed, as shown inFIG. 24, a forward and reverse select switch 135 for selecting(switching) traveling direction of the magnetic tape 206, a selectswitch 136 for the recording/reproducing system, and a volume 134 foradjustment of reproduction sound quantity.

6! Cassette Holder

The cassette holder 8 constituting a cassette holding mechanism to allowthe tape cassette 201 to undergo loading operation into the cassetteloading portion 4 and to hold the tape cassette 201 within the cassetteloading portion 4 will now be described.

The cassette holder 8 constituting the cassette holding mechanism ispivotably supported, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 20, and FIGS. 21 to 23, bya pair of supporting pieces 26 with the support shaft 34 being as thecenter of rotation by inserting a pair of left and right support shafts34 provided on both sides of the base end into penetration holes 27bored into a pair of left and right supporting pieces 26 formed at bothsides of a short side of the side plate 7. At the supporting piece 26,as shown in FIG. 28, a limit piece 30 for limiting the pivoting rangewith the support shaft 34 of the cassette holder 8 being the center isprojected. This limit piece 30 is engaged with a pivoting range limitgroove 32 formed so as to have a circular arc shape, with the supportshaft 34 being the center, at the base end of the cassette holder 8 tolimit the pivoting range of the cassette holder 8.

This cassette holder 8 is formed rectangular in correspondence with theplane surface shape of tape cassette 201 inserted into the cassetteholder 8. At the of a pair of long sides opposite to each other, firstand second cassette holding portions 60, 61 bent so that they areL-shaped in cross section are respectively formed. The cassette holder 8is pivotably attached to the recorder holder 1 by a projecting supportshaft 34 at the side of one of a pair of opposing short sides; with thebase end portion supporting the support shaft 34 by the supporting piece26. At the other short side, or the front end of the cassette holder 8,a cassette insertion/withdrawal hole is constituted.

The tape cassette 201 is inserted into the cassette holder 8 or iswithdrawn therefrom through the cassette insertion/withdrawal openingwith one of the opposing short sides being the insertion end. The tapecassette 201 which has been inserted into the cassette holder 8 is heldby first and second cassette holding portions 60, 61. At the internalside where the tape cassette 201 is inserted; the second cassetteholding portion 61 for supporting the back side opposite to the frontface where the magnetic head insertion hole 206 is located, which is atone of of a pair of opposing long sides of the tape cassette 201, acassette holding body 58 is disposed. This cassette holding body 58 isformed by bending a thin metal plate to have a channel shape in crosssection, and is formed to have a length sufficient to hold the tapecassette 201 over substantially the entire length of theinsertion/withdrawal range of the tape cassette 201 with respect to thecassette holder 8. Moreover, the cassette holding body 58 can befluctuated, as shown in FIG. 22, with the support shaft 59 being thecenter, with respect to the second cassette holding portion 61 byallowing the middle portion to be supported by the second cassetteholding portion 61 through the support shaft 59. Since this cassetteholding body 58 has a length extending over the insertion/withdrawalrange of the tape cassette 201 with respect to the cassette holder 8,secure insertion/withdrawal operation with respect to the cassetteholder 8 of the tape cassette 201 can be made. Further, the cassetteholding body 58 is such that, in allowing the tape cassette 201 held bythe cassette holder 8 to undergo loading operation into the cassetteloading portion 4, the cassette holding body 58 is fluctuated with thesupport shaft 59 being the center to thereby control the attitude of thetape cassette 201 held by the cassette holder 8, thus allowing thepositioning pins 15, 16 or the capstan shafts 17, 18, etc. to besecurely inserted into the tape cassette 201.

The cover body 5 is pivoted by a pair of left and right support shafts35 projected on both sides of the base end of the cassette holder 8,whereby it can be pivtoably attached to the cassette holder 8. It is tobe noted that set screws 72 is screw-connected to the front end of thesupport shaft 35 so that prevention of slip-off from the support shaft35 of the cover body 5 is realized. Moreover, at the side of a pair ofopposing long sides of the cover body 5, there are provided engagementpawls engaged with the cassette holder 8 in order to permit pivoting ofthe cassette holder 8 following the pivoting operation when pivoting iscarried out in a direction to open the cassette loading portion 4. Inaddition, the engagement pawl serves to limit the pivoting range withrespect to the cassette holder 8 of the cover body 5. The pivoting rangewith respect to the cassette holder 8 of the cover body 5 is severaldegrees to 10 degrees.

Further, at the upper surface side of the cassette holder 8, first andsecond leaf springs 51, 52 are attached. At the first leaf spring 51,there is provided a cassette pressing piece 51a attached to the base endportion of the cassette holder 8 and projected inwardly of the cassetteholder 8 through a through-hole 130 bored in the cassette holder 8.Moreover, at the second leaf spring 52, there is provided a cassettepressing piece 54 attached to the front end of the cassette holder 8 andprojected inwardly of the cassette holder 8 through a though-hole 128bored at the cassette holder 8. Respective cassette pressing pieces 51a,54 of these first and second leaf springs 51, 52 allow the plane surfaceof the tape cassette 201 to undergo pressing supporting when the tapecassette 201 insertion-held by the cassette holder 8 is pivoted towardthe cassette loading portion 4 along with the cassette holder 8, and isthen loaded into the cassette loading portion 4. The tape cassette 201is such that when it is subjected to pressing support by cassettepressing pieces 51a, 54, positioning is carried out such that the tapecassette 201 is in correspondence with the cassette loading portion 4.Thus, the state where the tape cassette 201 is loaded thereinto ismaintained.

Moreover, at the second leaf spring 52, there is provided, in additionto the cassette pressing piece 54, a cover pressing piece 53 projectedtoward the cover body 5 disposed in such a manner to be overlaid on thecassette holder 8. This cover pressing piece 53 is such that when thecover body 5 is pivoted in a direction to open the cassette loadingportion 4 by elastically biasing the cover body 5 with respect to thecassette holder 8, the cover pressing piece 53 allows the cassetteholder 8 to have away from the cover body 5.

Further, the cover body 5 is attached to the recorder body 1 in thestate where it is rotationally biased in a direction to open thecassette loading portion 4. At the inside surface of one of the longsides of the cover body 5, there is attached, as shown in FIG. 22, afixed arm 66 of which a base end portion is pivoted by one support shaft35 provided at the cassette holder 8 which pivotably supports the coverbody 5. At the front end portion of the fixed arm 66, the base end sideof the connection arm 65 is pivotably supported through a support shaft67. At the front end of the connection arm 65, one end of the rotationalarm 62 is pivotably supported through a support shaft 68. Thisrotational arm 62 is such that the central portion thereof is rotatablysupported at the side plate 7 through a support shaft 69, and a springholding portion 63 is formed at the other end thereof. Between thespring holding portion 63 and a spring holding pawl formed at the sideplate 7, a tension spring 64 is stretched. This tension spring 64 servesto rotationally bias the rotational arm 62 in a direction indicated byarrow P₁ in FIG. 22 where one end which is the supporting side to theconnection arm 65 of the rotational arm 62 is away from the cassetteloading portion 4 side, and to pivotably bias the cover body 5 in anopening direction which is the direction indicated by arrow J₁ in FIG.22. In this example, the fixed arm 66 is fixed to the cover body 5 byscrew 70.

Moreover, at the cover body 5, there is provided a window 71 forallowing a portion of the tape cassette 201 loaded into the cassetteloading portion 4 to be externally visible external as shown in FIG. 2.

Further, at the chassis 6, there is attached a leaf spring 138 forpressing the side surface of the base end of the cover body 5 to biasthe cover body 5 in the opening direction which is the directionindicated by arrow J₁ in FIG. 22. Since when the cover body 5 is pivotedopen by a predetermined angle or more with respect to the chassis 6, theleaf spring 138 is caused to move away therefrom by the cover body 5, itpivotably biases the cover body 5 at the initial stage of openingoperation of the cover body 5.

At the cassette holder 8, a cassette eject lever 44 is slidablyattached. This cassette eject lever 44 is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 20,formed so as to have a flat plate shape, and that slide guide grooves48, 49 having a long direction in the slide direction are bored, thus,the cassette eject lever 44 is attached to the cassette holder 8 in thestate where it is caused to be slidable in the direction indicated byarrow S₁ and in the direction indicated by arrow S₂ in FIG. 22 withinthe range of the slide guide grooves 48, 49 by inserting supporting pins42, 43 vertically provided on the cassette holder 8 into these slideguide grooves 48, 49. At the base end portion of the cassette ejectlever 44, there is formed a pressing operation piece 57 which is pressedby the tape cassette 201 inserted into the cassette holder 8 so that itserves as a movement portion which allows the cassette eject lever 201to undergo movement operation, and allows the end surface of theinsertion end with respect to the cassette holder 8 of the tape cassette201 held by the cassette holder 8 to undergo pressing operation. Thispressing operation piece 57 is faced to the bottom end portion of thecassette holder 8 and is bent toward the cassette loading portion 4. Inaddition, the cassette eject lever 44 is biased in the directionindicated by arrow S₁ in FIG. 20 which is the direction to eject thetape cassette 201 held by the cassette holder 8 from the cassette holder8 by a tension spring 46 stretched between a spring holding piece 45bent and formed in the middle portion thereof and a spring holding piece47 provided on the cassette holder 8.

The cassette eject lever 44 is such that when the tape cassette 201 iscaused to undergo inserting operation into the cassette holder 8, thepressing operation piece 57 is subjected to pressing operation by theend surface of the insertion and of the tape cassette 201, whereby thecassette eject lever 44 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow S₂in FIG. 20 against the biasing force of the tension spring 46.

Moreover, the cassette eject lever 44 is such that when the cover body 5is caused to undergo opening operation so that the cassette holder 8 isrotated in a direction to move away from the cassette loading portion 4,the cassette eject lever 44 is caused to undergo the biasing force ofthe tension spring 46 so that it is moved in the direction indicated byarrow S₁ in FIG. 20 to press the end surface of the insertion side ofthe tape cassette 201 by the pressing operation piece 57 to project thetape cassette 210 in a direction to eject it from the cassette holder 8.

In the vicinity of the support shaft 35 which rotatably supports thecover body 5, there is provided, as shown in FIG. 28, a lock mechanismsuch that when the tape cassette 201 is inserted into the cassetteholder 8, the lock mechanism locks the cassette eject lever 44 at theposition withdrawn from the cassette holder 8. Namely, the lockmechanism serves to hold the tape cassette 201 insertion-held by thecassette holder 8 against the biasing force of the tension spring 46 atthe position where no pressing operation is carried out. This lockmechanism is provided with a lock lever 36 rotatably attached with thesupport shaft 35 for rotatably supporting the cover body 5, which isinserted into insertion hole 37 formed at the base end, being thecenter. This lock lever 36 is positioned at the internal surface side ofthe cover body 5 and the cassette holder 8, and is extended toward theinternal of the cassette loading portion 4. The lock lever 36 isprovided with a first holding portion 38 formed at the plane surfaceopposite to the internal surface side of the cover body 5 and a secondholding portion 39 formed in such a manner that it is projected towardthe above with respect to the chassis 6.

The lock lever 36 is rotationally biased in the direction indicated byarrow J₂ in FIG. 28 which is the opening direction of the cover body 5by the torsional coil spring 41 wound on the support shaft 35. Namely,the first holding portion 38 is rotationally biased in a direction tomove closer to the cassette eject lever 44 disposed at the cassetteholder 8. Moreover, the lock lever 36 is such that contact portion 40 ofone end is caused to come into contact with a rotation limit piece 33formed at the side surface of the cassette holding portion 60 providedat the base end of the cassette holder 8 so that rotation biasing by thetorsional coil spring 41 is limited.

The lock lever 36 is caused to undergo the biasing force of thetorsional coil spring 41, whereby when it is located at the initialposition shown in FIG. 28 where the contact portion 40 is caused to bein contact with the rotation limit piece 33, it allows the first holdingportion 38 to hold the holding piece 50 provided at the cassette ejectlever 44 to lock the cassette eject lever 44 at the position where thelever 44 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow S₂ in FIG. 20against the biasing force of the tension spring 46. In this case, theholding piece 50 is formed at the front end of an extended pieceextended toward one side of the base end of the cassette eject lever 44.When the cassette eject lever 44 is placed in the state where it islocked at the lock lever 36, the pressing operation piece 57 provided atthe cassette eject lever 44 is located at the position where it is drawnfrom the cassette holder 8. In addition, the cassette eject lever 44 issuch that when engagement of the holding piece 50 with respect to thefirst holding portion 38 is released, the cassette eject lever 44 iscaused to undergo the biasing force of the tension spring 46 so that itis moved in the direction indicated by arrow S, in FIG. 20 to move thepressing operation piece 57 into the cassette holder 8.

Meanwhile, when the cover body 5 is located at the opening positionshown in FIG. 28 where the cover body 5 has opened the cassette loadingportion 4, the lock lever 36 is located at the initial position wherethe contact portion 40 is caused to be in contact with the rotationlimit piece 33.

When the cover body 5 is located at the cover opening position to insertthe tape cassette 201 into the cassette holder 8 which has been rotatedto the position where the cassette insertion/withdrawal hole facesexternally from the recorder body 1 to allow the pressing operationpiece 57 to undergo pressing operation by the end surface of theinsertion side of the tape cassette 201, the cassette eject lever 44 ismoved in the direction indicated by arrow S₂ in FIG. 20 against thebiasing force of the tension spring 46 to allow the holding piece 50 topress the front end portion 38a of the first holding portion 38 of thelock lever 36 to rotate the lock lever 36 in the direction indicated byarrow X₁ in FIG. 28 with the support shaft 35 being the center againstthe biasing force of the torsional coil spring 41. When the tapecassette 201 is further inserted inside the cassette holder 8 to furthermove the cassette eject lever 44 in the direction indicated by arrow S₂in FIG. 20 against the biasing force of the tension spring 46, theholding piece 50 climbs over the front end portion 38a of the firstholding portion 38. The lock lever 36 is caused to undergo the biasingforce of the torsional coil spring 41 so that it is rotationallyreturned in the direction indicated by arrow X₂ in FIG. 28, thusallowing the holding piece 50 to be engaged with the first holdingportion 38. When the engagement piece 50 is held by the first holdingportion 38, the cassette eject lever 44 is locked at the positionwithdrawn from the cassette holder 8 causing the pressing operationpiece 57 to be away from the insertion end surface of the tape cassette201 which was insertion-held by the cassette holder 8.

Moreover, there is provided a rotation limit plate 29 formed by anelastically displaceable leaf spring for limiting rotation of the locklever 36 in a manner to face the inside of rotation locus of the secondholding portion 39 formed at the front end of the lock lever 36 when thelock lever 36 is rotated with the support shaft 35 being the center.This rotation limit plate 29 is formed L-shaped in a manner to project arotation limit portion 29b from the front end portion of a verticalportion 29a toward the lateral direction thereof. The rotation limitplate 29 is attached in the state where the bottom end portion of thevertical portion 29a is fixed to a rising piece 28 formed by bending aportion of the chassis 6 in such a manner to face the rotation limitportion 29b to the inside of rotation locus of the second holdingportion 39. Namely, the rotation limit plate 29 is caused to beelastically displaceable in the direction indicated by arrow V₁ in FIG.28 with the base end portion of the vertical portion 29a fixed at therising piece 28 being the center.

When the tape cassette 201 is insertion-held by the cassette holder 8 ina manner as described above thereafter to pivot the cover body 5 in thedirection indicated by arrow J₂ in FIG. 28 where the cassette loadingportion 4 is closed, the front end portion of the second holding portion39 of the lock lever 36 comes into contact with the rotation limitportion 29b provided at the rotation limit plate 29. Further, when thecover body 5 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow J₂ in FIG.28, the rotation limit plate 29 is subjected to elastic displacement inthe direction indicated by arrow V₁ in FIG. 28 while the lock lever 36is pressed. When the cover body 5 is pivotted along with the cassetteholder 8 to the position where the cassette loading portion 4 is closed,the rotation limit plate 29 of the lock lever 36 is released. Thus, thesecond holding portion 39 is projected toward the lower surface of therotation limit portion 29b. When the rotation limit plate 29 of the locklever 36 is released, the rotation limit plate 29 is elasticallyreturned in the direction indicated by arrow V₂ in FIG. 28. Thus, thesecond holding portion 39 is engaged with the rotation limit portion29b.

Moreover, the lock lever 36 is rotated in the direction indicated byarrow X₁ in FIG. 28 against the biasing force of the torsional coilspring 41 at the middle stage rotated in the direction indicated byarrow J₁ in FIG. 28 where the cover body 5 opens the cassette loadingportion 4 to release the locked state of the cassette eject lever 44.Namely, when the cover body 5 is located at the position where it closesthe cassette loading portion 4, the lock lever 36 is placed in the statewhere it allows the rotation limit plate 29 to hold the second holdingportion 39. When the cover body 5 is rotated in the direction indicatedby arrow J₁ in FIG. 28 where the cassette loading portion 4 is opened,the lock lever 36 is pivotted in the direction indicated by arrow X₁ inFIG. 28 against the biasing force of the torsional coil spring 41. Whenthe cover body is further pivotted to the position where the tapecassette 201 held by the cassette holder 8 is withdrawn from the firstand second capstan shafts 17, 18, the holding state with respect to theholding piece 50 of the cassette eject lever 44 by the first holdingportion is released. When the locked state of the lock lever 36 of thecassette eject lever 44 is released, the cassette eject lever 44 iscaused to undergo the biasing force of the tension spring 46 so that itmoves in the direction indicated by arrow S₁ in FIG. 20 to carry outpressing operation by the pressing operation piece 57 in a direction toeject the tape cassette 201 from the cassette holder 8.

When the cover body 5 is further pivotted in a direction to open thecassette loading portion 4, engagement with the rotation limit portion29b of the second holding portion 39 is released. As a result, the locklever 36 is caused to undergo the biasing force of the torsional coilspring 41 so that it is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow X₂in FIG. 28. Thus, the lock lever 36 is returned to the initial position.Namely, the lock lever 36 is further rotated in the direction indicatedby arrow X₁ in FIG. 28 by further pivotting in the cover openingdirection of the cover body 5, thus to release engagement with therotation limit portion 29b of the second holding portion 39.

7! Operation of the tape recorder

The operation in which the tape cassette 201 is loaded into the taperecorder of this embodiment constituted as described above to carry outrecording and/or reproduction of information signals such as a musicsignal, for example, with respect to the magnetic tape 206 accommodatedwithin the tape cassette 201 will now be described.

In order to load the tape cassette 201 into the cassette loading portion4 constituted within the recorder body 1, the opening operation of thecover body 5 placed in the state where it closes the cassette loadingportion 4 is carried out as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 21. In order toopen the cover body 5, the eject button 73 is caused to undergo pressingoperation. When the eject button 73 is caused to undergo pressingoperation, the eject operation lever 108 is moved in the directionindicated by arrow F₁ in FIG. 8. Thus, the eject lever 110 isrotationally operated in the direction indicated by arrow G₁ in FIG. 9.The lock lever 23 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow H₁ inFIG. 25 by rotational operation in the direction indicated by G₁ in FIG.9 of the eject lever 110. As a result, the lock piece 24 is caused to beoff from the engagement portion 100 of the cover body 5 to release thelock state of the cover body 5. When the lock state of the cover body 5by the lock lever 23 is released, the leaf spring 138 presses the sidesurface of the base end side of the cover body 5. Thus, the cover body 5is rotated in a direction to open the cassette loading portion 4 whichis the direction indicated by arrow J₁ in FIG. 22 with the support shaft35 being as the center. Simultaneously with the pressing operation bythe leaf spring 138, the rotational arm 62 is caused to undergo thebiasing force of the tension spring 63 so that it is rotated in thedirection indicated by arrow P₁ in FIG. 22. When the rotational arm 62is rotated, a connection arm 64 which has been moved in a collapsed(folded) manner with respect to the rotational arm 62 with the supportshaft 68 being as the center is rotated with the support shaft 68 beingas the center in a manner to extend with respect to the rotational arm62. When the rotational arm 62 and the connection arm 64 which have beenplaced in collapsed (folded) state are rotated in such a manner thatthey both extend, the cover body 5 is pivotted up to the position wherethe cassette loading portion 4 is opened as shown in FIG. 22 with thesupport shaft 35 being the center.

When the cover body 5 is pivotted in a direction to open the cassetteloading portion 4 which is the direction indicated by arrow J₁ in FIG.22, the cassette holder 8 connected through the engagement pawl to thecover body 5 is also pivotted in the same direction. Namely, when thecover body 5 is pivotted in the direction indicated by arrow J₁ in FIG.22, the cassette holder 8 is also pivotted in a direction to move awayfrom the cassette loading portion 4 along with the cover body 5 with thesupport shaft 34 being the center. Thus, the cassetteinsertion/withdrawal opening of the front end where insertion/withdrawalof the tape cassette 210 is carried out faces externally from therecorder body 1.

In the state where the cover body 5 is opened so that the cassetteinsertion/withdrawal opening of the cassette holder 8 faces externallyas described above, loading operation of the tape cassette 201 iscarried out. The tape cassette 201 having the rectangular plane surfaceshape is inserted into the cassette holder 8 through the cassetteinsertion/withdrawal opening with one of a pair of opposing short sidesbeing the insertion end. At this time, the tape cassette 201 is insertedinto the cassette holder 8 in such a manner that the plane surface wherethe magnetic head insertion hole 207 is formed and a portion of themagnetic tape 206 faces externally is caused to be opposite the magnetichead 9 disposed within the recorder body 1.

When the tape cassette 201 is inserted into the cassette holder 8, thecassette eject lever 44 attached to the cassette holder 8 is subjectedto pressing operation from the tape cassette 201, and is caused toundergo movement operation in the direction indicated by arrow S₂ inFIG. 20 inwardly of the cassette holder 8 against the biasing force ofthe tension spring 46. When the tape cassette 201 is inserted into thenormal insertion position of the cassette holder 8, the cassette ejectlever 44 holds the holding piece 50 by the first holding portion 38 ofthe lock lever 36. Thus, the cassette eject lever 44 is locked at theposition where it is moved internal to the cassette holder 8 in thestate where the tension spring 46 is expanded.

When the tape cassette 201 is inserted into the cassette holder 8 toallow the cassette holder 8 to hold it thereafter to pivot, along withthe cassette holder 8, the cover body 5 in the direction indicated byarrow J₂ in FIG. 22 where the cassette loading portion 4 is closed,first and second capstan shafts 17, 18 are inserted into capstaninsertion holes 213, 213 provided in the tape cassette 201 held by thecassette holder 8. Thus, respective reel drive shafts 19, 20 are engagedwith reel hubs 202a, 203a of the tape reels 202, 203 through reverseshaft insertion holes 210, 211. Further, positioning pins 15, 16 areinserted through positioning holes 214, 214. In addition, when the coverbody 5 is pivotted up to the position where the cassette loading portion4 is closed, the tape cassette 201 which has been insertion-held by thecassette holder 8 is supported by positioning pins 15, 16 or heightpositioning pins provided at the cassette loading portion 4 side,whereby loading position into the cassette loading portion 4 isdetermined after undergoing positioning.

Moreover, when the cover body 5 is pivotted to the position where thecassette loading portion 4 is closed, the engagement portion 100 isengaged with the lock piece 24 of the lock lever 23, whereby the coverbody 5 is locked at the position where the cassette loading portion 4 isclosed. At this time, the tape cassette 201 which has beeninsertion-held by the cassette holder 8 is pressure-supported toward thechassis 6 by the cassette pressing pieces 51a, 52a of the first andsecond leaf springs 51, 52 provided at the cassette holder 8 so that itcomes into pressure contact with the positioning pins 15, 16 and theheight positioning pins. As a result, precise positioning is carriedout. Thus, the state where the tape cassette 201 is loaded into thecassette loading portion 4 is maintained.

After the tape cassette 201 is loaded into the cassette loading portion4 as described above, the pressing portion for selecting any one ofvarious operation modes that this tape recorder has, which isconstituted at the operation button 74 provided at the player body 1, ispushed down (depressed). When the pressing portion is caused to undergopressing operation, the operation mode corresponding to the pressingportion which has been subjected to pressing operation is selected inthis tape recorder. Namely, the tape recorder is set, in accordance withthe pressing portion which has been subjected to pressing operation, tothe recording and/or reproduction mode for information signals in theforward mode or in the reverse mode for traveling the magnetic tape 206in the forward direction or in the reverse direction to carry outrecording and/or reproduction of information signals, thus to carry outrecording and/or reproduction of information signals with respect to themagnetic tape 206. Alternatively, the tape recorder is set to a musicselect mode for traveling the magnetic tape 206 at a high speed todetect a music information signal recorded on the magnetic tape 206, afast feed mode for allowing the magnetic tape 206 to undergo high speedfeed operation to the tape reel of the winding side, or a rewinding modefor allowing the magnetic tape 206 to undergo rewinding operation to thetape reel of the supply side to carry out the operation corresponding toeach operation mode.

In this tape recorder, when there results the state where there isselected the recording and/or reproduction mode to travel the magnetictape 206 at a constant velocity to permit recording and/or reproductionof information signals with respect to the magnetic tape 206, theoperation mode select lever 118 is moved in the direction indicated byarrow B₁ or the direction indicated by arrow B₂ in FIG. 11 from theneutral position against the biasing force of the torsional coil spring186, and the rotation limit piece 122 provided at the select lever 118is caused to be in the state where it is opposite to one side of theeject lever 110 and operation of the eject lever 110 is prohibited.Accordingly, when there is the state where the recording and/orreproduction mode is selected, even if the eject button 73 is caused toundergo pressing operation, movement operation of the eject lever 110 islimited. Thus, the cover opening operation of the cover body 5 isprohibited. Because the cover opening operation of the cover body 5 isrestricted, the cassette holder 8 maintains the state where it ispivotted toward the cassette loading portion 4 side to maintain thestate where the tape cassette 201 is loaded into the cassette loadingportion 4.

As stated above, since an approach is employed to prohibit the ejectoperation in the recording and/or reproducing mode placed in the statewhere the magnetic head 9 is advanced toward the cassette loadingportion 4, and is admitted into the tape cassette 201 so that constantvelocity traveling of the magnetic tape 206 is carried out, it ispossible to realize secure protection of the mechanical portionconstituting the recording/reproducing unit of this tape recorder, suchas, for example, magnetic head 9 and pinch rollers 11, 12.

When an operation is conducted to carry out recording and/orreproduction of information signals such as music, for example, withrespect to the magnetic tape 206 of the tape cassette 201 loaded intothe cassette loading portion 4 thereafter to allow pressing portioncorresponding to the stop mode constituted at the operation button 74 toundergo pressing operation to stop the tape recorder thereafter to allowthe eject button 73 to undergo pressing operation, the cover openingoperation of the cover body 5 and the operation caused to be moved fromthe cassette loading portion 4, that is, detachment operation of thecassette holder 8 are carried out.

Meanwhile, when the eject button 73 is caused to undergo pressingoperation, the cassette holder 8 is pivotted with the support shaft 34being the center in a direction to move away (remote) from the cassetteloading portion 4 along with the cover body 5, first and second capstanshafts 17, 18 and positioning pins 15, 16 are caused to disengage fromthe tape cassette 201 held by the cassette holder 8, and the cassetteinsertion/withdrawal opening of the front end faces externally from therecorder body 1, the lock lever 36 is rotated in the direction indicatedby arrow X₂ in FIG. 28 which is the direction opposite to the rotationdirection of the cover body 5 with the support shaft 35 of the coverbody 5 being the center against the biasing force of the torsional coilspring 36a. When the lock lever 36 is rotated in the direction oppositeto the pivotting direction of the cover body 5, engagement with thefirst engagement portion 38 provided at the lock lever 36 of the holdingpiece 50 provided at the cassette eject lever 44 is released. Thus, thelocked state of the cassette eject lever 44 is released. When the lockedstate of the cassette eject lever 44 by the lock lever 36 is released,the cassette eject lever 44 is caused to undergo the biasing force ofthe tension spring 46 so that it moves in the direction indicated byarrow S₁ in FIG. 20 to press the end surface of the insertion side ofthe tape cassette 201 by the pressing operation piece 57 to project thetape cassette 210 in a direction to eject it from the cassette holder 8.At this time, the tape cassette 201 is placed in the state where theother short side 209a side opposite to the short side 209c of theinsertion side is projected from the cassette holder 8. Accordingly, theportion projected from the cassette holder 8 is grasped, thereby makingit possible to easily carry out removal operation of the tape cassette201.

While explanation has been given by making an example of the taperecorder using the so called Phillips type tape cassette as a recordingmedium, this invention can be applied to a recording and/or reproducingapparatus using, as a recording medium, a tape cassette has arectangular plane shape within which a magnetic tape or any othertape-shaped recording medium is accommodated.

Further, tape recorders to which this invention is applied are not onlytape recorders which permit both recording and reproduction ofinformation signals, but also tape recorders for carrying out onlyreproduction of information signals recorded on the tape-shapedrecording medium. In addition, this invention can be applied to taperecorders including a radio receiver therein as well.

Industrial Applicability

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to this inventionis provided with cassette holding mechanism like a cassette holderadapted so that a tape cassette having a rectangular plane surface shapeis inserted thereinto with one of a pair of opposing short sides beingthe front end in the insertion direction thereof, wherein the cassetteholding mechanism is disposed with the short side of the body being asthe supporting end, and is pivotably supported by the body between aposition where the inserted tape cassette is loaded into the recordingand/or reproducing unit and a position where the tape cassette insertedinto the cassette holding mechanism is caused to be away or detachedfrom the recording and/or reproducing unit. Accordingly, this eliminatesthe problems that the recording and/or reproducing apparatuses adaptedfor carrying out insertion/withdrawal of the tape cassette in thelaterally disposed position so that the end in the length direction iscaused to serve as the insertion end, thus making it possible to easilycarry out insertion/withdrawal of the tape cassette.

Moreover, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thisinvention is adapted so that when the cassette holding mechanism movesfrom the position where it is loaded into the recording and/orreproducing unit to the position where it is caused to be away ordetached therefrom, the head is caused to be moved to the position awayfrom the loading position of the tape cassette, thus making it possibleto realize secure protection of the head and/or other mechanism portionsand the tape cassette.

Further, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thisinvention is adapted to carry out movement operation of the head afterthe tape cassette is loaded into the cassette loading portion, or afterthe tape cassette is caused to be away or detached from the cassetteloading portion to thereby realize protection of the tape-shapedrecording medium such as magnetic tape, for example, accommodated withinthe tape cassette and the head constituting the recording and/orreproducing means.

In addition, when the recording and/or reproducing unit is in the statewhere it permits recording and/or reproduction of information signalswith respect to the tape-shaped recording medium within the tapecassette, the locked state of the cover body is maintained by the lockmechanism. Accordingly, this securely prevents the tape cassette frombeing ejected in the middle of recording and/or reproduction byerroneous operation, thus making it possible to securely protect themechanical portions such as the heat or tape traveling mechanism, etc.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording and/or reproducing apparatuscomprising:a body adapted for receiving a tape cassette therein, whereinthe body is shaped as a thin rectangular box having a rectangularsurface with a long dimension, a short dimension, and a depth, and thebody has a closed state and an opened state for loading and unloadingthe tape cassette, and the tape cassette has long sides, short sides,and a thickness; a cover pivotably attached to the body, the coverhaving a first position corresponding to the closed state of body and asecond position in which the cover is pivotted away from the bodycorresponding to the opened state of the body, the cover having a pivotaxis that is parallel with the short dimension of the body; recordingand/or reproducing means provided in the body for recording and/orreproducing information signals to/from a tape-shaped recording mediumcontained within the tape cassette, the recording and/or reproducingmeans being movable from an operating position when the body is in theclosed state and a loading position when the body is in the openedstate; and cassette holding means disposed within the body for holdingthe tape cassette such that when the tape cassette is inserted into thecassette holding means of the body the short sides of the tape cassetteare parallel with the short dimension of the body and one of the shortsides of the tape cassette enters the cassette holding means of the bodybefore other parts of the tape cassette enter the cassette holding meansof the body, the cassette holding means being attached to the cover suchthat the cassette holding means pivots along with the cover, wherein thecassette holding means is pivotted between a position in which the tapecassette inserted into the cassette holding means is operatively engagedwith the recording and/or reproducing means and a position in which thetape cassette inserted into the cassette holding means is moved away ordetached from the recording and/or reproducing means, wherein therecording and/or reproducing means includes a head for recording and/orreproducing information signals to/from the tape-shaped recordingmedium, the head disposed for movement between an operating position inwhich the head is operatively engaged with the tape cassette and adetached position in which the head is disengaged from the tapecassette, and the apparatus further comprises moving means for movingthe head between the operating position and the detached position.
 2. Arecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe cassette holding means includes a holder having a first holdingposition and provided with a first holding portion for holding one ofthe long sides of the tape cassette and a second holding portion forholding another of the long sides of the tape cassette when loading ofthe tape cassette has been completed and the body is in the closedstate.
 3. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim2, wherein the apparatus further comprises lock means for locking thecover in the closed state.
 4. A recording and/or reproducing apparatusas set forth in claim 3, wherein the apparatus further comprisespreventing means for preventing the cover from unlocking when therecording and/or reproducing means is recording or reproducing.
 5. Arecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,whereinthe cassette holding means includes cassette moving operationmeans for moving the tape cassette to an eject position when thecassette holding means is moved to a detachment position and the coveris pivotted to the second position in which the body is in the openedstate.
 6. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim5, wherein the cassette moving operation means includesa movementportion provided at the cassette holding means for causing the cassetteholding means to undergo movement when the tape cassette is insertedinto the cassette holding means, biasing means for biasing the movementportion in a direction to eject the tape cassette inserted into thecassette holding means, and a lock portion for locking the movementportion after insertion of the tape cassette into the cassette holdingmeans is completed, wherein the lock portion unlocks the movementportion when the cassette holding means is moved to the loadingposition.
 7. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:a bodyadapted for receiving a tape cassette therein, wherein the body isshaped as a thin rectangular box having a rectangular surface with along dimension, a short dimension, and a depth, and the body has aclosed state and an opened state for loading and unloading the tapecassette, and the tape cassette has long sides, short sides, and athickness; a cover pivotably attached to the body, the cover having afirst position corresponding to the closed state of body and a secondposition in which the cover is pivotted away from the body correspondingto the opened state of the body, the cover having a pivot axis that isparallel with the short dimension of the body; recording and/orreproducing means provided in the body for recording and/or reproducinginformation signals to/from a tape-shaped recording medium containedwithin the tape cassette, the recording and/or reproducing means beingmovable from an operating position when the body is in the closed stateand a loading position when the body is in the opened state; andcassette holding means disposed within the body for holding the tapecassette such that when the tape cassette is inserted into the cassetteholding means of the body the short sides of the tape cassette areparallel with the short dimension of the body and one of the short sidesof the tape cassette enters the cassette holding means of the bodybefore other parts of the tape cassette enter the cassette holding meansof the body, the cassette holding means being attached to the cover suchthat the cassette holding means pivots along with the cover, wherein thecassette holding means is pivotted between a position in which the tapecassette inserted into the cassette holding means is operatively engagedwith the recording and/or reproducing means and a position in which thetape cassette inserted into the cassette holding means is moved away ordetached from the recording and/or reproducing means, wherein thecassette holding means includes a holder having a first holding positionand provided with a first holding portion for holding one of the longsides of the tape cassette and a second holding portion for holdinganother of the long sides of the tape cassette when loading of the tapecassette has been completed and the body is in the closed state, andwherein the recording and/or reproducing means includes a head forrecording and/or reproducing information signals to/from the tape-shapedrecording medium, the head disposed for movement between an operatingposition in which the head is operatively engaged with the tape cassetteand a detached position in which the head is disengaged from the tapecassette, and the apparatus further comprises moving means for movingthe head between the operating position and the detached position.
 8. Arecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, whereinthe apparatus further comprises operation means for allowing the coverto undergo movement operation to the opened state of the cover and forcausing the moving means to move the head from the operating position tothe detached position.
 9. A recording and/or reproducing apparatuscomprising:a body adapted for receiving a tape cassette therein, whereinthe body is shaped as a thin rectangular box having a rectangularsurface with a long dimension, a short dimension, and a depth, and thebody has a closed state and an opened state for loading and unloadingthe tape cassette, and the tape cassette has long sides, short sides,and a thickness; a cover pivotably attached to the body, the coverhaving a first position corresponding to the closed state of body and asecond position in which the cover is pivotted away from the bodycorresponding to the opened state of the body, the cover having a pivotaxis that is parallel with the short dimension of the body; recordingand/or reproducing means provided in the body for recording and/orreproducing information signals to/from a tape-shaped recording mediumcontained within the tape cassette, the recording and/or reproducingmeans being movable from an operating position when the body is in theclosed state and a loading position when the body is in the openedstate; and cassette holding means disposed within the body for holdingthe tape cassette such that when the tape cassette is inserted into thecassette holding means of the body the short sides of the tape cassetteare parallel with the short dimension of the body and one of the shortsides of the tape cassette enters the cassette holding means of the bodybefore other parts of the tape cassette enter the cassette holding meansof the body, the cassette holding means being attached to the cover suchthat the cassette holding means pivots along with the cover, wherein thecassette holding means is pivotted between a position in which the tapecassette inserted into the cassette holding means is operatively engagedwith the recording and/or reproducing means and a position in which thetape cassette inserted into the cassette holding means is moved away ordetached from the recording and/or reproducing means, wherein thecassette holding means includes a holder having a first holding positionand provided with a first holding portion for holding one of the longsides of the tape cassette and a second holding portion for holdinganother of the long sides of the tape cassette when loading of the tapecassette has been completed and the body is in the closed state, whereinthe apparatus further comprises lock means for locking the cover in theclosed state, and wherein the recording and/or reproducing meansincludes a head for recording and/or reproducing information signalsto/from the tape-shaped recording medium, the head disposed for movementbetween an operating position in which the head is operatively engagedwith the tape cassette and a detached position in which the head isdisengaged from the tape cassette, and the apparatus further comprisesmoving means for moving the head to the detached position by locking thecover from a locked state.
 10. A recording and/or reproducing apparatuscomprising:a body adapted surface to receive a tape cassette containinga tape-shaped recording medium therein, wherein the body is shaped as athin rectangular box having a rectangular principal surface with a longdimension, a short dimension, and a depth, the body has a closed stateand an opened state for loading and unloading the tape cassette, and thetape cassette has long sides, short sides, a thickness, and a pair ofreels on which the tape-shaped recording medium is wound; a coverpivotably attached to the body, the cover having a first positioncorresponding to when the body is in the closed state and a secondposition in which the cover is pivotted away from the body correspondingto when the body is in the opened state, the cover having a pivot axisthat is parallel with the short dimension of the body; recording and/orreproducing means provided in the body and having a pair of reel driveshafts for engaging the pair of reels of the tape cassette, therecording and/or reproducing means adapted for recording and/orreproducing information signals to/from the tape-shaped recording mediumwithin the tape cassette, the pair of reel drive shafts projecting fromthe principal surface of the body; and a cassette holder disposed withinthe body and into which the tape cassette is inserted, the tape cassettebeing inserted into the cassette holder with the short sides of the tapecassette being parallel with the short dimension of the body such thatone of the short sides of the tape cassette enters the cassette holderfirst before other parts of the tape cassette enter the cassette holder,the cassette holder being attached to the cover such that the cassetteholder pivots along with the cover, wherein the cassette holder pivotsbetween a first position in which the pair of reels of the tape cassetteis respectively engaged with the pair of reel drive shafts and a secondposition in which the pair of reels of the tape cassette is respectivelydisengaged with the pair of reel drive shafts, wherein when the cassetteholder is in the first position the cover covers the principal surfaceof the body and the body is in the closed state, wherein the apparatusfurther comprises biasing means for biasing the tape cassette held bythe cassette holder toward the recording and/or reproducing means, thebiasing means being provided at a back side of the cover and adapted tobias the tape cassette held by the cassette holder such that an openingformed in the cassette holder and exposing a portion of the tape-shapedrecording medium faces the recording and/or reproducing means, andwherein the recording and/or reproducing means includes a head forrecording and/or reproducing information signals to/from the tape-shapedrecording medium, the head being disposed for movement between anoperating position in which the head is operatively engaged with thetape cassette and a detached position in which the head is disengagedfrom the tape cassette, and the apparatus further comprises moving meansfor moving the head to the detached position by unlocking the cover froma locked state.
 11. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus as setforth in claim 10, wherein the apparatus further comprises anopening/closing mechanism attached to the cover for opening and closingthe cover, the cover being attached to a hinged portion of theopening/closing mechanism and to the cassette holder.
 12. A recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein theapparatus further comprises lock means for locking the cover in thefirst position with the body in the closed state.
 13. A recording and/orreproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the apparatusfurther comprises preventing means for preventing the the cover fromunlocking when the recording and/or reproducing means is recording orreproducing.
 14. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forthin claim 10, whereinthe cassette holder includes cassette movementoperation means for moving the tape cassette to an eject position whenthe cassette holder is moved to the second position.
 15. A recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein thecassette movement operation means includesa movement portion provided atthe cassette holding means for causing the cassette holding means toundergo movement when the tape cassette is inserted into the cassetteholder, biasing means for biasing the movement portion in a direction toeject the tape cassette inserted into the cassette holder; and a lockportion for locking the movement portion when insertion of the tapecassette into the cassette holder is completed, wherein the lock portionunlocks the movement portion when the cassette holder is moved to thesecond position.
 16. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for usewith a tape cassette having a rectangular shape and containing atape-shaped recording medium therein, the tape cassette having a pair ofreels on which the tape-shaped recording medium is wound, and beingprovided at a side surface thereof with an opening portion exposing aportion of the tape-shaped recording medium wound between the pair ofreels, the apparatus comprising:a body adapted to receive the tapecassette therein, the body being shaped as a thin rectangular box andhaving a principal surface with long and short dimensions substantiallysimilar to long and short sides of the tape cassette; a cover pivotablyattached to the body, the cover having a first position corresponding towhen the body is in a closed state and a second position in which thecover is pivotted away from the body corresponding to when the body isin an opened state, the cover having a pivot axis that is parallel withthe short dimension of the body; recording and/or reproducing meansincluding a pair of reel drive shafts for engaging the pair of reels ofthe tape cassette, the reel drive shafts projecting from the principalsurface of the body, and a magnetic head disposed along the longdimension of the body and engaging the tape cassette through the openingportion of the tape cassette; and a cassette holder for holding the tapecassette within the body the tape cassette being inserted into thecassette holder with the short sides of the tape cassette being parallelwith the short dimension of the body such that one of the short sides ofthe tape cassette enters the cassette holder first before other parts ofthe tape cassette enter the cassette holder, the cassette holder beingattached to the cover such that the cassette holder pivots along withthe cover, wherein the cassette holder is adapted to allow the pair ofreels of the tape cassette to engage with the pair of reel drive shafts,the cassette holder pivoting between a first position in which themagnetic head is engaged with the tape-shaped recording medium throughthe opening portion of the tape cassette and the pair of reel driveshafts is engaged with the pair of reels of the tape cassette and asecond position in which the pair of reel drive shafts is disengagedfrom the pair of reels of the tape cassette, wherein the apparatusfurther comprises moving means for moving the magnetic head from aposition in which the magnetic head is engaged with the tape-shapedrecording medium to a position in which the magnetic head is disengagedfrom the tape-shaped recording medium when the cassette holder and thecover body are moved from the position with the body in the closed stateto the second position with the body in the opened state.
 17. Arecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 16,whereinthe apparatus further comprises operation means for allowing thecover to undergo movement between the first and second positions, andthe operation means causes the moving means to move the magnetic headfrom the position in which the magnetic head is engaged with thetape-shaped recording medium to the position in which the magnetic headis disengaged from the tape-shaped recording medium.
 18. A recordingand/or reproducing means as set forth in claim 16, wherein the apparatusfurther includes lock means for locking the cover in the first positionwith the body in the closed state.
 19. A recording and/or reproducingapparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein the apparatus furtherincludes preventing means for preventing unlocking of the cover when therecording and/or reproducing means is recording or reproducing.
 20. Arecording and/or reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 16, whereinthe cassette holder is provided with a first holding portion for holdinga long side of the tape cassette, and a second holding portion forholding another long side of the tape cassette when loading of the tapecassette into the body is completed.
 21. A recording and/or reproducingapparatus for use with a tape cassette having a rectangular shape andcontaining a tape-shaped recording medium therein, the tape cassettehaving a pair of reels on which the tape-shaped recording medium iswound, and being provided at a side surface thereof with an openingportion exposing a portion of the tape-shaped recording medium woundbetween the pair of reels, the apparatus comprising:a body adapted toreceive the tape cassette therein, the body being shaped as a thinrectangular box and having a principal surface with long and shortdimensions substantially similar to long and short sides of the tapecassette; a cover pivotably attached to the body, the cover having afirst position corresponding to when the body is in a closed state and asecond position in which the cover is pivotted away from the bodycorresponding to when the body is in an opened state, the cover having apivot axis that is parallel with the short dimension of the body;recording and/or reproducing means including a pair of reel drive shaftsfor engaging the pair of reels of the tape cassette, the reel driveshafts projecting from the principal surface of the body, and a magnetichead disposed along the long dimension of the body and engaging the tapecassette through the opening portion of the tape cassette; and acassette holder for holding the tape cassette within the body the tapecassette being inserted into the cassette holder with the short sides ofthe tape cassette being parallel with the short dimension of the bodysuch that one of the short sides of the tape cassette enters thecassette holder first before other parts of the tape cassette enter thecassette holder, the cassette holder being attached to the cover suchthat the cassette holder pivots along with the cover, wherein thecassette holder is adapted to allow the pair of reels of the tapecassette to engage with the pair of reel drive shafts, the cassetteholder pivoting between a first position in which the magnetic head isengaged with the tape-shaped recording medium through the openingportion of the tape cassette and the pair of reel drive shafts isengaged with the pair of reels of the tape cassette and a secondposition in which the pair of reel drive shafts is disengaged from thepair of reels of the tape cassette, wherein the apparatus furtherincludes lock means for locking the cover in the first position with thebody in the closed state, and wherein the recording and/or reproducingmeans further includes moving means for moving the magnetic head whenthe lock means is released and the cover is unlocked from the firstposition so that the magnetic head disengages from the tape-shapedrecording medium.
 22. A recording and/or reproducing apparatuscomprising:a body having a planar surface with a rectangular shape andlong and short dimensions, the body adapted to house a tape cassettecontaining a tape-shaped recording medium, the tape cassette having longand short sides; recording and/or reproducing means provided in the bodyfor recording and/or reproducing information signals on the tape-shapedrecording medium within the tape cassette; a cover pivotably attached tothe body, the cover having a first position corresponding to when thebody is in a closed state and the recording and/or reproducing means iscovered and a second position in which the cover is pivotted away fromthe body corresponding to when the body is in an opened state when therecording and/or reproducing means is uncovered, the cover having apivot axis that is parallel with the short dimension of the body;cassette holding means for holding the tape cassette such that a shortside of the tape cassette serves as the front end and is inserted intothe cassette holding means first before other parts of the tapecassette, the cassette holding means having an operating position whenthe tape cassette is loaded into the cassette holding means and adetached position; and lock means provided with a pressing operationportion disposed at a side of the body to lock the cover in the firstposition with the body in the closed state and to unlock the cover bypressing the pressing operation portion, wherein the recording and/orreproducing means is provided with a head for recording and/orreproducing information signals on the tape-shaped recording medium ofthe tape cassette, the head having a first position in which the head isengaged with the tape-shaped recording medium and a second position inwhich the head is detached from the tape-shaped recording medium, andwherein the recording and/or reproducing means further includes movingmeans for moving the head between the first and second positions whenthe cover is unlocked.
 23. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus asset forth in claim 22, wherein the recording and/or reproducing means isprovided with preventing means for preventing pressing of the pressingoperation portion of the lock means when the recording and/orreproducing means is recording or reproducing.